NÜRNBERG, May 21, 2019
After rain washed out Monday’s play for all but one match, at least seven first-round matches could be completed on another wet day at the Nürnberger Versicherungscup.
Andrea Petkovic delighted her home crowd with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Cagla Buyukakcay of Turkey. The No. 8 seed from Germany capitalized on five of her eight break point chances to advance in one hour and 14 minutes followed by her famous “Petko Dance”.
“I am very pleased with my performance today and very happy to win another match in Nuremberg. Every day I’m allowed to stay longer is a gift,” Petkovic said. The 31-year-old from Darmstadt will next take on compatriot Anna-Lena Friedsam, who rallied past Irina-Camelia Begu of Romania, winning 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 in two hours of play.
“Anna-Lena is a great player. She is one of the most brilliant talents we have in German tennis. She has good weapons on the court and knows how to use them,” Petkovic is full of praise for her upcoming opponent.
Friedsam is only playing her fifth tournament of the season following two shoulder surgeries last year and entered the WTA International event with a wild card. Petkovic won the only previous meeting between the two Germans in Marseille 2013.
Riske falls
Nina Stojanovic caused the upset of the day by knocking out No. 4 seeded US-American Alison Riske. The World No. 247 from Serbia, who battled through the qualifying, won four points more than her opponent to seal a 7-6(6), 2-6, 6-2 victory in two hours and 17 minutes. Stojanovic will next challenge Sara Sorribes Tormo of Spain.
With Laura Ioana Paar another qualifier made it to the second round of the clay-court event. The 30-year-old from Romania defeated Quirine Lemoine of the Netherlands 6-1, 6-3 in 60 minutes to play either compatriot Sorana Cirstea or No. 6 seed Kirsten Flipkens from Belgium next.
Fifth favourite Ekaterina Alexandrova of Russia edged past qualifier Jana Cepelova of Slovakia 6-4, 6-2 to face Veronika Kudermetova, who emerged victorious from the all-Russian encounter with Vitalia Diatchenko. The 22-year-old from Moscow won 6-4, 6-7(4), 6-2 after two hours and 16 minutes.
WEDNESDAY SCHEDULE
CENTRE — 10:30 a.m. start
[WC] Svetlana KUZNETSOVA (RUS) vs. Johanna LARSSON (SWE)
[WC] Sabine LISICKI (GER) vs. [3] Ajla TOMLJANOVIC (AUS) (to be finished 2-6, 2-1)
Not before 1:00 p.m.
[1] Yulia PUTINTSEVA (KAZ) vs. Mona BARTHEL (GER)
[WC] Anna-Lena FRIEDSAM (GER) vs. [8] Andrea PETKOVIC (GER)
Not before 5:30 p.m. — Possible court change
[WC] Svetlana Kuznetsova or Johanna Larsson vs. Mandy Minella or [2] Katerina Siniakova
SHOW COURT 3 — 10:30 a.m. start
Sorana CIRSTEA (ROU) vs. [6] Kirsten FLIPKENS (BEL)
[Q] Nina STOJANOVIC (SRB) vs. Sara SORRIBES TORMO (ESP)
Sharon FICHMAN (CAN) / Nicole MELICHAR (USA) vs. Andreea MITU (ROU) / Alexandra PANOVA (RUS)
[Q] Laura Ioana PAAR (ROU) vs. Sorana Cirstea or [6] Kirsten Flipkens
Possible court change
Tamara ZIDANSEK (SLO) vs. [WC] Sabine Lisicki or [3] Ajla Tomljanovic
COURT 5 — 10:30 a.m. start
Mandy MINELLA (LUX) vs. [2] Katerina SINIAKOVA (CZE)
[WC] Katharina GERLACH (GER) / Julia WACHACZYK (GER) vs. Giorgia MARCHETTI (ITA) / Laura PIGOSSI (BRA) (to be finished 2-1)
Madison BRENGLE (USA) vs. Kristyna Pliskova or [Q] Jule Niemeier
Shuko AOYAMA (JPN) / Yana SIZIKOVA (RUS) vs. Paula KANIA (POL) / Xenia KNOLL (SUI)
After suitable rest
Luisa STEFANI (BRA) / Nina STOJANOVIC (SRB) vs. Akgul AMANMURADOVA (UZB) / Valentyna IVAKHNENKO (RUS)
COURT 4 — 10:30 a.m. start
Kristyna PLISKOVA (CZE) vs. [Q] Jule NIEMEIER (GER) (to be finished 6-1, 5-3)
[5] Ekaterina ALEXANDROVA (RUS) vs. Veronika KUDERMETOVA (RUS)
[1] Gabriela DABROWSKI (CAN) / XU Yifan (CHN) vs. Cornelia LISTER (SWE) / Renata VORACOVA (CZE)
After suitable rest
[3] Raquel ATAWO (USA) / Katarina SREBOTNIK (SLO) vs. [WC] Katharina HOBGARSKI (GER) / Jule NIEMEIER (GER)
