Tamara Zidansek rallied from a set and a break down, then saved four match points to outlast Nadia Podoroska of Argentina 4-6, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (3) in the quarterfinals of the Thailand Open in Hua Hin.
The Slovenian needed three hours and 41 minutes to complete the feat, making it the fourth-longest match of the season in a WTA main-draw event, Podoroska, up 5-4, 40-0 in the third set, had three match points, but Zidansek broke serve after winning an 18-shot rally. Serving for the match at 6-5, Podoroska couldn’t cash in on the opportunity, with Zidansek hitting a return winner to fight off the match point.
In the semifinals, Zidansek — who has fought injuries and illnesses over the past two seasons — will face Rebecca Sramkova of Slovakia, who beat Croatian Jana Fett 4-6, 6-4, 6-1.
In the other semifinal, Germany’s Laura Siegemund will play Arianne Hartono of the Netherlands. Siegemund ousted Rebeka Masarova of Spain 6-3, 6-4, while Hartono beat Mai Hontama of Japan 4-6, 6-2, 6-3.
Korea Open
Rain wiped out the day’s action in Seoul, with the singles quarterfinals and doubles semifinals postponed until Saturday.
The four Saturday singles matches feature: –No. 3 seed Beatriz Haddad Maia of Brazil vs. Polina Kudermetova of Russia –Viktoriya Tomova of Bulgaria vs. Veronika Kudermetova of Russia –No. 1 Daria Kasatkina of Russia vs. Emma Raducanu of Great Britain –No. 4 Diana Shnaider of Russia vs. No. 5 Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine
With wins, the Kudermetova sisters would clash in the semifinals.
