Lyon (AFP)
The French Kristina Mladenovic, 53rd player in the world, was eliminated Friday in the quarterfinals of the women's tennis tournament in Lyon by the Spanish Paula Badosa in three sets 7-5, 6-7 (5), 6-2.
Badosa, seeded N.7, will face Saturday in the semi-final, the young (18 years) Danish Clara Tauson (N.139), from the qualifications and victorious earlier in the afternoon from the Italian Camila Giorgi (N.81) 6-3, 6-1.
Seeded N.4, Mladenovic and Badosa delivered an intense and highly contested match from start to finish.
Led 3-1 in the first set, the Frenchwoman managed to gain the upper hand 4-3 to finally lose 7-5.
In the second set, Kristina Mladenovic, N.3 French, still led 4-2 before being caught.
She then saved three match points at 5-6 for Badosa before winning in the decisive game 7-6 (7/5) and then taking the advantage at the start of the last set (2-0).
But Paula Badosa did not break up.
After having resisted well, she chained six consecutive games to remove the qualification in the last four.
"There was a very good level of tennis today. I got my serve back, like at the start of the season. At 0-2 in the last set, I managed to replay my best game against an opponent who also played very well, "said the Spaniard who will play her first semi-final on the WTA circuit.
"The level was quite high with a lot of intensity on both sides. We both had chances but I did not know how to seize them and in particular an unconverted break point which could have allowed me to lead 3-0 in the last set. It would have been a game-changer, "commented Mladenovic.
At the end of the afternoon, Fiona Ferro (N.46), seeded N.2, faced Clara Burel, 218th world and beneficiary of an invitation which will ensure the presence of a French in the semi-final of the Lyon event.
© 2021 AFP