Heather Watson wins, Jodie Burrage in first WTA semi-final at Nottingham Open, Katie Boulter beats Harriet Dart
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ByEurosport
Updated 16/06/2023 at 17:10 GMT
Jodie Burrage has reached her maiden WTA level semi-final after a win over Magdalena Frech. Burrage had to battle in a contest that lasted two hours and 22 minutes, but she converted her fourth match point to secure the biggest win of her career. British No. 1 Katie Boulter is also through to the semi-finals after beating Harriet Dart in straight sets, and Heather Watson is also through.
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Heather Watson, Jodie Burrage and Katie Boulter are all through to the Nottingham Open semi-finals.
31-year-old Briton was the last of three Britons to qualify for the next round on Friday, as she took on Viktorija Golubic of Switzerland.
She was pushed hard in both sets, winning the first on a 7-6(7-2) tie-break, and then followed up with a 7-5 win in the second set.
The win sets up a semi with Boulter, ensuring at least one British player in the final.
Burrage is through to the semi-finals of a WTA tour tournament for the first time in her career after a 6-2 3-6 7-5 win over Magdalena Frech.
World No. 111 Burrage produced a shock win over third seed Magda Linette in the quarter-finals, but she followed it up by beating the world No. 77 in a tight three-set battle to reach the last four.
Burrage will play either world No. 72 Alize Cornet or world No. 110 Elizabeth Mandlik in the semi-finals.
"I'm absolutely knackered," Burrage said afterwards.
"I'd like to stop playing three set matches but if it gets me the win then I've got to grind through it.
"It was a really tough match. I am feeling it a little bit and I think in the second set I was thinking too much about that and less about the tennis. I really tried to pick myself up for the third set.
"This week has given me so much confidence, especially after not playing a lot recently with the injuries I've had.
"To come back out and make my first semi-finals of a WTA tournament. The confidence it gives me is massive and I'll take it through to the next tournaments."
Burrage secured back-to-back breaks in the first set and reeled off five games in a row to confidently take the opening set.
But Frech fought back in the second set and broke in the fourth game to move into a 3-1 lead, converting her seventh break point before eventually going on to take the set.
A topsy-turvy third set culminated with Burrage having two match points at 5-4 up, but she squandered both.
She earned herself a second opportunity to close the match out, though, and she converted her fourth match point to produce the biggest win of her career.
Boulter joined Burrage in the semi-finals after a 6-3 7-5 win over compatriot Harriet Dart.
In a contest featuring plenty of heavy baseline hitting, the British No. 1, who overtook Emma Raducanu in the WTA rankings after reaching the semi-finals of the Surbiton Trophy last week, came out on top in one hour and 43 minutes.
Boulter squandered a match point at 5-3 up in the second set, but on her seventh of the match on the Dart serve she sealed the win.
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