NÜRNBERG, May 24, 2017

Fourth seed Laura Siegemund was forced to retire during her second round match at the Nürnberger Versicherungscup on a chilly Wednesday at the Valznerweiher, while the top seeds of the $250,000 WTA International Kiki Bertens and Yulia Putintseva both advanced.

Laura Siegemund left the court on a stretcher

Local favourite Siegemund suffered a right knee injury with the score 5-5 in the second set against Barbora Krejcikova from the Czech Republic. The 29-year-old from Stuttgart, who was assisted with a stretcher off the court, had won the opening set 6-4.

Germany’s Fed Cup captain Barbara Rittner said Siegemund had likely suffered ligament damage and that “she won’t be able to play in Paris” at Roland Garros.

Defending champion Bertens advanced to the quarterfinals by beating Annika Beck of Germany 7-5, 6-2. The World No. 19 sent down five aces, winning 60 per cent of her first service points to seal victory in one hour and 33 minutes.

“It was really tough today,” Bertens told afterwards. “I think it was a lot different than yesterday, a little bit more cold, a little bit more wind. But I’m really happy to be through.”

Putintseva, the tournament’s number two, followed suit with a 6-4, 6-0 win in only 63 minutes over Yanina Wickmayer of Belgium. Next up for Bertens will be fifth-seeded Alison Riske of the United States, while Putintseva will face Romanian Sorana Cirstea.

Later in the day, Carina Witthöft emerged victorious from the all-German-affair with Julia Görges, winning 6-1, 7-5. The 22-year-old from Hamburg withstood 10 aces and broke serve five times to prevail after one hour and 29 minutes. Witthöft is the last German standing facing Czech qualifier Barbora Krejcikova in the stage of the final eight.

–> quarter final 💁🏼 @NuernbergerCup pic.twitter.com/uY0HT8iowa

— Carina Witthöft (@WitthoeftCarina) 24. Mai 2017