AN unbelievable round of action has seen fireworks across the Hobart International with two shock results and a couple of epic clashes as the semi-finalists were decided. The first shock of the day was the announcement the night before that number two seed, Garbine Muguruza was withdrawing from the tournament due to illness and the decision allowed fifth seed Russian, Veronika Kudermetova to book an easy path into the semi-finals.

There were two contenders for the match of the day, but the three-and-a-half-hour epic between number one seed and two-time Hobart International winner Elise Mertens and Britain’s Heather Watson had to be seen to be believed. The match was one of the longest you will see on the WTA Tour, with neither player able to really dominate the contest during Watson’s stunning 6-7 6-4 7-5 come-from-behind upset win. Both were serving at just over 60 per cent for their first serves and under 60 per cent for the first serve points won, as they combined for 36 break point opportunities, as Mertens converted six, but Watson managed eight which was the narrow difference in the end. It was more a battle of attrition than skill with Watson having to face third seed, Elena Rybakina in the semis who had a lengthy match of her own.

Rybakina had plenty of headaches getting past resilient Australian, Lizette Cabrera downing the local hope 6-7 7-6 7-5 in a match where neither player would budge. It took two hours and 37 minutes as Rybakina served up six aces and won two thirds of her points on serve. Though both players had break point opportunities, creating a combined 25, as the Kazakhstan 20-year-old managed to break through six times from 10 chances while saving 10 on-serve with Cabrera managing the five break points. Cabrera was more consistent with getting her first serve in at 71.8 per cent, but could only capitalise 59.5 per cent of the time as the young top 30 player continued her 2020 form to reach the semi-finals.

In the last remaining quarter final of the tournament, Zhang Shuai overcame American Lauren Davis in a practically breezy, 88 minutes with a 6-1 6-4 triumph. The fourth seed has to face Kudermetova in the semi-finals, who has come off a walkover result. Shuai won in every statistical category, dominating her service games and protecting the break point opportunities that did arise with Davis only managing to convert one from 13 opportunities, while Shuai took out four from eight. Her first serve points won was a lowly 59.6 per cent, but the Chinese seed was able to do the same to her opponent, winning 43.9 per cent of the time off her opponent’s first serve, and 56 per cent of the time off her opponent’s second serve.

It is no surprise to see Zhang and Kudermetova’s semi-final up first given the combined 88 minutes on court with that match to begin at 4.30pm today, while Watson and Rybakina – playing a combined six-plus hours between them yesterday – will see who has the better endurance when they face off in the following match. Zhang is also in a doubles clash in the latest games with fellow Chinese player, Peng Shuai against Belgian duo, Kristen Flipkens and Alison Van Uytvanck.

Day 4 Results:

Heather Watson (GBR) defeated [1] Elise Mertens (BEL) 6-7 6-4 7-5
[5] Veronika Kudermetova (RUS) defeated [2] Garbine Muguruza (ESP) W/O
[3] Elena Rybakina (KAZ) defeated Lizette Cabrera (AUS) 6-7 7-6 7-5
[4] Zhang Shuai (CHN) defeated Lauren Davis (USA) 6-1 6-4