Romero Gormaz overturns early break in decider to reach Cali final

Leyre Romero Gormaz of Spain came back from an early break down in the deciding set to beat Argentina’s Julia Riera 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 in 2 hours 46 minutes in the semi-finals of the Cali WTA 125 on Friday.

The world No. 131 will face either Alice Tubello, a special exempt, or eighth seed Bianca Andreescu in the final.

Each player broke serve seven times, and Riera made 13 double faults to Romero Gormaz’s six. Romero Gormaz won 111 points to Riera’s 109.

Earlier in the week, she beat Slovenia’s Polona Hercog 6-0, 6-1 and Argentina’s Solana Sierra 6-4, 6-1.

Riera, ranked 137th, opened her week with wins over Colombia’s Valentina Mediorreal Arias 6-1, 6-1 and Austria’s Julia Grabher 6-2, 6-4. She then beat Mexico’s Renata Zarazua 6-4, 1-6, 6-2 in the quarter-finals.

Gormaz’s path to the final

First round: d. Polona Hercog (Q) 6-0, 6-1
Second round: d. Solana Sierra (3) 6-4, 6-1
Quarter-final: d. Carole Monnet 4-6, 7-5, 6-4
Semi-final: d. Julia Riera 3-6, 7-5, 6-4

Riera’s path to the semi-finals

First round: d. Valentina Mediorreal Arias (WC) 6-1, 6-1
Second round: d. Julia Grabher (6) 6-2, 6-4
Quarter-final: d. Renata Zarazua (2) 6-4, 1-6, 6-2
Semi-final: lost to Leyre Romero Gormaz 3-6, 7-5, 6-4