The Spanish Nuria Parrizas defeated the British Heather Watson 6-4, 7-6(2) on Thursday and qualified for the quarterfinals of the Monterrey Tennis Open, in which she will face her compatriot Sara Sorribes.
Parrizas, number 51 in the world ranking, came from behind in both sets against a difficult rival, who won the tournament in 2016 and this time he showed a good level, although he slowed down at the end of each heat.
The Spanish suffered a break and was down 1-3 in the first set and the same thing happened in the second, in which she broke in the twelfth game and forced the ‘tie break’, which she won.
At the top eight stage, Parrizas will face Sorribes, who on Wednesday beat Frenchwoman Harmony Tan 6-2, 6-2.
Shortly after, the Ukrainian Elina Svitolina, the first favorite, had to show her best tennis to eliminate the Bulgarian Viktoruya Tomova 7-6 (3), 3-6, 6-2.
Svitolina, 15 in the WTA ranking, was pressured by the Bulgarian, placed at 103, who showed an effectiveness of 74.9 percent with his first service and only fell in the ‘tie break’.
Tomova went for more with good points with her ‘drive’ and better service to tie the duel and provoke a third set in which the Ukrainian recovered and won.
At the top eight stage, Svitolina will face the Colombian Camila Osorio who this Wednesday beat the Mexican Marcela Zacarías 7-6(2), 6-3.
In another result, the Chinese Qiang Wang beat the Egyptian Mayar Sherif 6-0, 6-7(2) 6-3 and reached the quarterfinals, a phase in which she will meet the Canadian Leylah Fernández, defending champion, winner this Wednesday of the Italian Lucía Bronzetti, by 6-1, 4-6, 7-6(3).
The Open, the 250th WTA tournament, takes place on a hard court with a prize pool of $276,750.