SANTA PONSA, June 23, 2017

US-American teenager Catherine Bellis advanced to her first ever WTA Tour semi-final in her debut pro event on grass court with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Kristyna Pliskova of the Czech Republic at the Mallorca Open on Friday.

The 18-year-old from California hit 26 winners to just six unforced errors, winning 89 per cent of her first service points to prevail in one hour and two minutes.

“It’s definitely one of the biggest achievements so far in my career,” grinned Bellis afterwards. “Grass suits my game,” she observed. “I would say my movement was a big strength today. I think I got to a lot of balls and my defence was really good.”

Julia Goerges (photo: Mallorca Open)

Bellis will next take on Julia Goerges, who emerged victorious from the all-German-affair with wild card entry Sabine Lisicki, winning 6-2, 6-4.

The 29-year-old Bad Oldesloe native saved four of the five break points she faced, converting four of her own to advance after one hour and 28 minutes.

Sevastova And Garcia Return To Semi-Finals

Secound seed Anastasija Sevastova from Latvia slipped past Croatian teenager Ana Konjuh 7-5, 1-6, 7-6 to return to the stage of the final four in Mallorca.

“I like grass when it’s hot, maybe!” told Sevastova, who finished runner-up to Caroline Garcia last year. “I think the grass is faster, maybe because it’s hotter so the ball goes more through the court. I played in Nottingham, and didn’t play that good, and Wimbledon last year also … but here, something, maybe it switched – we’ll see, I have nothing to lose at Wimbledon. I haven’t gotten past the first round in many years.”

Next up for Sevastova will be Caroline Garcia in a rematch of last year’s final. The defending champion of France defeated Roberta Vinci from Italy in the last match of the day 6-2, 7-6 in one hour and 31 minutes.

Gala Night at Iberostar Hotel Jardin del Sol in Santa Ponsa