Simona Halep and Elise Mertens both won their semifinals in straight sets to advance to Sunday’s title match at the 2020 Prague Open, the second European tournament since the resumption of the WTA Tour in this coronavirus era.
Top seed Simona Halep edged past fellow Romanian Irina-Camelia Begu 7-6(2) 6-3. The two-time Grand Slam champion has won all seven meetings with the 82nd-ranked Begu so far, dropping only one set. Begu was in an unfavorable position in the Prague Open semifinals, as she had played two tough sets against Spain’s Sara Sorribes Tormo earlier on Saturday to victoriously finish their Friday’s quarterfinal suspended by rain, 6-2 4-6 6-2.
The world No.2 Halep won the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships in February in her last tournament played before the tour’s hiatus and now she’s one step away from winning her second WTA title in 2020 in her first tournament after tennis’ comeback.
Third seed Elise Mertens of Belgium, ranked 23rd in the world, defeated home favorite Kristyna Pliskova 7-5 7-6(4), going from 3-0 down in the tiebreak and hitting seven aces to just two of her big-serving opponent.
Our Jimmie48 attended all Saturday’s matches, including the doubles semifinal in which fourth seeds Monica Niculescu and Raluca Olaru defeated top seeds Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova.
MORE PHOTOS FROM THE 2020 PRAGUE OPEN:
- Friday: Halep, Mertens advance to semifinals
- Thursday: Halep, Bouchard win three-setters to reach quarterfinals
- Wednesday: Kristyna Pliskova upsets Martic, Mertens advances to quarterfinals
- Tuesday: Halep progresses, a number of seeds fall in the first round
- Monday: Genie Bouchard shines on a washed-out opening day
- Sunday: Halep, Mertens, Bouchard practice on Sunday
