Abierto GNP Seguros: Shnaider saved five match points to beat Mertens
Diana Shnaider edged out Elise Mertens 3-6, 7-6 (6), 7-6 (4) on Thursday night. She’ll play the winner of the match between American Alycia Parks and Slovak Rebecca Sramkova in the next round
Diana Shnaider
Russian Diana Shnaider, the No 3 seed, edged out Belgian Elise Mertens, the No 5 seed, 3-6, 7-6 (6), 7-6 (4) to advance to the semi-finals of the Abierto GNP Seguros on Thursday night.
Shnaider saved one match point on serve trailing 5-4 in the second set, and another four on return down 5-2 in the third set.
The Ruissian player will play her first semi-final of the year on Friday.
Shnaider, ranked No 22, will play the winner of the match between American Alycia Parks and Slovak Rebecca Sramkova next.
In the previous round, the 21-year-old Russian won against Kamilla Rakhimova (7-6 (3), 6-1).
Mertens, ranked No 22, defeated Croat Donna Vekic (6-3, 6-3) and Russian Anna Blinkova (6-4, 6-3) in the previous rounds.
