After yesterday’s heartbreaking struggles of crowd favorite Belinda Bencic, there was more drama in store at the 2017 Ladies Open Biel Bienne on Wednesday, albeit of a different kind, as Switzerland’s Viktorija Golubic took on Laura Siegemund from Germany.
Siegemund had just arrived in Switzerland after coming straight from Charleston where she made the quarterfinals. Going from clay back to hardcourt, the German needed the first set to readjust to the new surface, quickly falling behind Golubic. A dramatic three-set battle unfolded as Golubic was pushed by a very much partisan crowd that had no interest in seeing Siegemund take out the final Swiss player from the singles draw. After two and a half hours of dramatic tennis, Golubic prevailed, keeping the local hopes in Biel alive, much to the satisfaction of the spectators.
While Golubic had just punched her second-round ticket, other players are already through to the quarters, as both Julia Görges and Kristyna Pliskova have made the round of the last eight. While Görges won her match against Oceane Dodin, Pliskova absolutely swept past Croatia’s Donna Vekic in two quick sets.
The tournament’s second round will complete on Thursday as top seed Barbora Strycova will face off with Carina Witthöft, while Viktorija Golubic will try to keep on carrying the Swiss flag against qualifier Aliaksandra Sasnovich. For all that and more, keep checking back tomorrow!
PHOTOS FROM PREVIOUS DAYS AT THE LADIES OPEN BIEL BIENNE:
- Tuesday: Bencic continues to struggle on home soil
- Monday: Main-draw action kicks off
- Sunday: Qualifying, practices and interaction with fans
Great photos!