PRAGUE had a bit of everything for spectators, both good, bad and otherwise as three of the four semi-finalists were decided. Previous rain delays meant the sole Round of 16 match between Irina-Camelia Begu and Leonie Kung had to be completed first up, and it was a marathon. The longest match of the tournament lasted three hours and 28 minutes before the more experienced Begu was able to put away the young Swiss talent, 6-7 7-5 7-6 and set up a semi-final for late in the day.

Most player might have been tired after spending that long on court, but Begu used the momentum built from winning a tight epic contest to bring into her quarter final, smashing Sara Sorribes Tormo 6-2 in the first set. Unfortunately a game into the second, the rain set in and forced a delay, with players set to come back the next day. The winner will have a tough task on day eight, having to back up the quarter finals win to face top seed Simona Halep later on.

Halep booked her spot in the last four with a 59-minute demolition job of Magdalena Frech, 6-2 6-0. Halep won 69 and 50 per cent of her first and second serve points for the match off a 70.7 per cent efficiency, saving two of a possible three break point opportunities for her Polish opponent. The second set in particular was just one way traffic the entire set as Frech struggled against the world number two, winning 11 of 38 points and bowing out in a match that saw why Halep is raging favourite for the tournament.

The third Romanian in action hoping to make it a 75 per cent representation from the European nation ran into trouble while being in control of her match. Ana Bogdan led Kristyna Pliskova 5-2 before being forced from the court with injury, having to retire after 38 minutes. It allowed the Czech safe passage into the quarter finals where she will play third seed Elise Mertens. The Belgian booked her ticket with an epic three-set win over Eugenie Bouchard, 6-4 1-6 6-4.

While Bouchard bowed out, there was enough to suggest the Canadian has turned her last few years of poor form around, taking two hours and 17 minutes to be bundled out, and by a top 20 hope. Tomorrow’s remaining quarter final will be completed between Begu and Sorribes Tormo, with an all-Romanian semi likely given Begu’s control of the contest at 6-2 0-1. Mertens and Pliskova are up next, with Halep awaiting the winner of the quarter final in the third match of the day on Centre Court.