SAN DIEGO — Emma Navarro beat Katerina Siniakova 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 Thursday night time, her 14th win of the yr, to advance to the quarterfinals of the Cymbiotika San Diego Open.
It marked the No. 3 seed’s second win over the Czech in a matter of weeks, having additionally prevailed in opposition to Siniakova within the second spherical in Dubai.
“She’s clearly a terrific participant, at all times places up a terrific struggle,” mentioned Navarro, who captured her first WTA singles title earlier this yr in Hobart. “She’s tremendous proficient and made it actually robust on me a few weeks in the past in Dubai and once more right here tonight. I struggled a bit bit infrequently, however I am pleased with the win.”
The previous College of Virginia standout, the NCAA singles titlist in 2021, is into the ultimate eight in San Diego for the second yr in a row. She will not have a lot time to get better as she’s going to subsequent face Australian qualifier Daria Saville on Friday. However Navarro says she is not fazed by the fast turnaround.
“I like the grind,” she insisted. “I like to compete and are available out on back-to-back days, placing my greatest foot ahead.”
Anna Blinkova is quick rising accustomed to dramatic comebacks, the most recent coming when the 25-year-old erased a 2-5 first-set deficit to upend fifth seed Dayana Yastremska, 7-6(6), 6-2. In January, the 51st-ranked baseliner famously saved six match factors to upset world No. 4 Elena Rybakina on the Australian Open, 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(20), in a match that featured the longest tiebreak in Grand Slam historical past. Earlier this week in San Diego, she rallied from a set and a break all the way down to defeat former No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki.
“At first, she was taking part in nice tennis. Very aggressive, very quick. I used to be late on a regular basis. I used to be making errors as a result of I used to be late. She was making winners all around the courtroom,” mentioned Blinkova, into her first quarterfinal of 2024. “I simply saved on preventing. I used to be looking for options. I attempted to alter the trajectory a bit bit.”
For her efforts, Blinkova earned a matchup with high seed Jessica Pegula of the US, in opposition to whom she is 0-2.
Donna Vekic stays on observe for a return to the ultimate in San Diego. The seventh seed from Croatia, a runner-up right here in 2022, superior through a two-hour, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 dismissal of the youngest participant remaining within the draw, 19-year-old qualifier Marina Stakusic of Canada. Her subsequent opponent will likely be Britain’s Katie Boulter.
“It was an attention-grabbing match,” mentioned Vekic, who registered 27 winners to 25 unforced errors amidst swirling winds. “The circumstances have been robust. I do not suppose I’ve framed so many forehands in my life, however I am actually comfortable to be by way of. She performed a tremendous match, preventing till the tip.”
A hero in her homeland after main Canada to its maiden Billie Jean King Cup title final yr, Stakusic was making solely the second main-draw look on the tour degree.
