Ferro lets a one-set lead slip, then wins it back to beat Mandlik in Queretaro

Fiona Ferro had the match under control, then spent 72 minutes watching it get away. The French third seed recovered in time, beating American Elizabeth Mandlik 6-2, 6-7(5), 6-4 in the quarterfinals of the Queretaro Open on Friday after two hours and 39 minutes.

Mandlik’s serve did more damage to her than to Ferro. The American hit 11 double faults to Ferro’s three, landed only 58% of her first serves and won just 20 of 48 points behind her second delivery, a 42% return. Ferro put 78% of her first serves in and won 64% of points on her second serve.

The pressure showed in the break-point count. Ferro needed 18 chances to convert seven, while Mandlik broke four times from 10 opportunities.

The win extends Ferro’s lead in the head-to-head to 2-0. She came into the quarterfinal off a 6-0, 6-0 win over Adriana Reami in the round of 16, after opening her week with a 7-5, 1-6, 6-3 win over Johnson.

Mandlik had reached the last eight by beating seventh seed Emiliana Arango 6-4, 6-4 in the first round, then Selena Janicijevic 2-6, 6-0, 6-4.