Cluj-Napoca, February 09, 2024, The Europe Today: In an epic quarterfinal showdown at the Transylvania Open, Romania’s Ana Bogdan, seeded eighth, pulled off a remarkable upset by defeating top-seeded Arantxa Rus of the Netherlands in a marathon match that lasted three hours and 28 minutes. Bogdan’s resilience and strategic play saw her secure victory with a hard-fought 3-6, 7-6 (6), 7-6 (5) triumph on Friday in Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
The encounter featured a tightly contested second-set tiebreaker, which Bogdan clinched on her second set point. Undeterred, she rallied from a 5-4 deficit in both the third set and the ensuing tiebreaker to complete the upset. Bogdan showcased her prowess on the court with eight aces and a flawless performance in saving 12 of 18 break points. In contrast, Rus, who had four aces, struggled with eight double faults.
Bogdan’s next challenge will be against compatriot Jaqueline Cristian in the semifinals, guaranteeing Romania a representative in the final on home soil. Cristian secured her spot by defeating Latvia’s Anastasija Sevastova with a scoreline of 6-3, 7-5.
The other semifinal will feature Great Britain’s Harriet Dart facing off against Karolina Pliskova from the Czech Republic. Dart advanced with a commanding 6-3, 6-2 victory over Spain’s Nuria Parrizas Diaz, while Pliskova sailed through her quarterfinal match against Italian Sara Errani with a comprehensive 6-2, 6-0 scoreline.
In the quarterfinal action in the United Arab Emirates, sixth-seeded Beatriz Haddad Maia of Brazil delivered a notable upset by defeating second-seeded Ons Jabeur of Tunisia 6-3, 6-4. Despite Jabeur’s edge in aces, Haddad Maia’s efficient conversion of break-point chances played a crucial role in her victory.
Top seed Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan had a smoother journey into the semifinals, defeating Spaniard Cristina Bucsa 6-1, 6-4 in just 64 minutes. Rybakina is set to face Russian eighth seed Liudmila Samsonova, who secured her spot with a 7-5, 6-4 win over Czech fourth seed Barbora Krejcikova.
Another intriguing semifinal matchup will see Haddad Maia taking on Russian seventh seed Daria Kasatkina, who dominated her quarterfinal clash against Romania’s Sorana Cirstea with a commanding 6-2, 6-0 victory. The Transylvania Open continues to deliver thrilling tennis action, setting the stage for intense battles in the upcoming rounds.
