Rabat Open: Stearns makes miracle comeback against Bronzetti

Peyton Stearns came back from a 5-0 deficit in the third set to stun Lucia Bronzetti, the No 4 seed, 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 in the quarter-finals of the Rabat Open at Union Sportive des Cheminots du Maroc on Thursday evening.

Bronzetti had two match points on her own serve, first at 5-0 and again at 5-4.

Stearns, ranked No 81, will face Bulgarian Viktoriya Tomova on semi-final Friday.

The 22-year-old American defeated Serb qualifier Aleksandra Krunic (5-7, 6-2, 6-1) and China’s Xiyu Wang, the No 6 seed (6-3, 6-1) in the previous rounds of the Rabat tournament.

Earlier this week Bronzetti, ranked No 48, defeated Moroccan wildcard Malak El Allami (6-1, 6-0) and Italy’s Martina Trevisan (6-2, 6-3).

Rabat WTA 250, other last eight results:

• Kamilla Rakhimova vs. Elisabetta Cocciaretto
• Sara Sorribes Tormo vs. Mayar Sherif
• Viktoriya Tomova beat Laura Siegemund: 6-4, 6-3