The quarterfinals of the WTA 250 ATX Open brought a mix of intense emotions and one-sided matches. The tournament's top favorite and featured star, Jessica Pegula, secured another dominant victory in Austin, defeating Anna Blinkova 6-2, 6-2 in a match that unfolded without much drama.
Her semifinal opponent, Alja Tomljanovic, experienced quite the opposite on Friday, battling through a thrilling three-setter against Ena Shibahara. The Australian entered as the pre-match favorite against the well-known doubles specialist and was on track for a relatively comfortable win despite losing the second set and struggling with her serve, committing multiple unforced errors. Tomljanovic led 5-2 in the third set and had her first opportunity to close out the match during Shibahara’s serve in the eighth game. However, the Japanese player refused to back down, playing aggressively with nothing to lose and putting pressure on Tomljanovic to narrow the gap. Facing two more match points in the 12th game, Shibahara managed to force a decisive tiebreak.
The tiebreak mirrored the match’s overall pattern - Tomljanovic took an early lead but struggled to close it out. She led 6-3, only for Shibahara to win four consecutive points, denying three match points and earning her first chance to complete a remarkable comeback. However, in the crucial moments, she faltered under pressure, losing both of her next service points since getting a matchpoint. Tomljanovic had yet another couple of opportunities and finally sealed the victory on her eighth match point.
McCartney Kessler kept hopes alive for an all-American final in Texas by defeating Sorana Cîrstea in the quarterfinals. The match was fiercely competitive, with both players winning a set after an intense battle. However, the decisive set was one-way traffic, as Cîrstea appeared physically drained while the fifth seed was aggressive and highly effective on return. Kessler’s dominance was evident in the third set, winning 62% of first-serve returns and an impressive 90% of second-serve returns, securing her spot in the semifinals.
Her next opponent will be Greet Minnen. The Belgian delivered a solid performance, defeating Caroline Dolehide 6-3, 7-5. Minnen showcased exceptional serving in the first set, while the second set was a scrappier affair on both sides. Dolehide had a chance to force a decider but was unable to convert a crucial breakpoint in the 10th game while leading 5-4. Minnen capitalized on this opportunity, winning the next two games to book her place in the semifinals.
