Veronika Kudermetova ousted top seed Elina Svitolina 6-1, 2-6, 7-5 in the second round of the Kremlin Cup in Moscow on Thursday, winning her first-ever match against a top-five opponent.
Svitolina, from Ukraine, was a semifinalist at both Wimbledon and the U.S. Open this year and entered the week ranked No. 4 in the world.
The 22-year-old Kudermetova, who needed two hours, two minutes for the win, will face fellow Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in Friday’s quarterfinal. The 28-year-old Pavlyuchenkova fought back from a set down to take a 5-7, 6-4, 6-2 win against another Russian, Varvara Gracheva.
Other winners on Thursday were second seed Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands, who also needed three sets to oust Kaia Kanepi of Estonia 4-6, 6-3, 7-5.
Bertens advanced to meet Kristina Mladenovic of France, who defeated No. 6 seed Anastasija Sevastova of Latvia, 7-5, 3-6, 6-3.
Luxembourg Open
Latvian Jelena Ostapenko came from behind to upset top seed Elise Mertens of Belgium 4-6, 6-2, 6-2.
A finalist last week in Linz, Austria, Ostapenko advances to another quarterfinal, this time facing German Antonia Lottner.
Lottner was on the court just 24 minutes, taking the first set from another German, Andrea Petkovic, who retired after losing 6-1.
Also advancing were No. 2 seed Julie Goerges of Germany, a 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 winner over Sorana Cirstea of Romania, and No. 8 seed Anna Blinkova of Russia, who dominated Tatjana Maria of Germany, 6-0, 6-1.
In the longest match of the day — two hours and 53 minutes — Monica Puig of Puerto Rico defeated Czech Krisytna Pliskova, 7-6 (5), 3-6, 7-6 (6) despite 28 aces by Pliskova. Puig had 14 of her own.
–Field Level Media
