Estoril Open News and Events

Jarmilia Groth

© Joao Lagos Sports

Slovakian World No. 73 Jarmilia Groth knocked out top seed and two-time runner-up Iveta Benesova of the Czech Republic 7-5, 6-4 in one hour and 32 minutes on Wednesday for a place in the Estoril Open quarter-finals.

Despite hitting six double faults, 22-year-old Groth won 55 per cent of service points and saved five of nine break points. Benesova, currently No. 31 in the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Rankings, dropped to 15-12 on the season and 10-4 at the Estadio Nacional where the 26 year old reached finals in 2006 (l. to Loit) and 2008 (l. to Kirilenko).

Groth now faces seventh-seeded Israeli Shahar Peer, who overcame a foot injury in time for her second round encounter with Czech Barbora Zahlavova Strycova. The 22-year-old Peer wrapped up a 6-4, 6-4 win to improve to 

Defending champion and second seed Maria Kirilenko, who clinched last year’s singles (d. Benesova) and doubles (w/Pennetta) trophies, experienced little resistance in defeating Maria Emilia Salerni of Argentina 6-3, 6-0.  Kirilenko, who is appearing at the Estadio Nacional for the fourth time, will next meet sixth-seeded Russian Ekaterina Makarova – a 5-7, 7-5, 7-5 winner over Melinda Czink of Hungary in two hours and 20 minutes. World No. 43 Makarova improved to 11-7 on the season.

Third-seeded Romania Sorana Cirstea improved to 3-0 lifetime against Maret Ani after beating the Estonian World No. 137 by a 7-5, 6-2 score line in one hour and 38 minutes. She will appear in her ninth Sony Ericsson WTA Tour quarter-final and second of the year. The 19 year old has a 5-9 season record, which include one semi-final exit at Marbella (l. to Suarez Navarro).  Prior to this week she had lost in the first round of eight of nine tournaments in 2009.

Cirstea will next meet Yanina Wickmayer, a 19-year-old Belgian, who advanced to the third quarter-final of her career after recovering from a disastrous start to beat Olga Govortsova of Belarus 0-6, 6-2, 6-2 in one hour and 51 minutes. Wickmayer won just 13 points in the first set, but then converted six of 17 break point opportunities to record her 12th win of the year.

Fourth-seeded German Sabine Lisicki struck five aces and saved 12 of 15 break points to beat Russian qualifier Elena Bovina 6-4, 7-5 in two hours and four minutes. Lisicki improved to 17-7 on the season, highlighted by winning her first Sony Ericsson WTA Tour title at Charleston (d. Wozniacki) in April.

She will next challenge eighth-seeded German Anna-Lena Groenefeld, who defeated her compatriot Kristina Barrois 6-4, 6-4 in one hour and 32 minutes. Groenefeld, who improved to 10-10 this year, hit nine double faults but won 57 per cent of service points and No. 77-ranked Barrois hit eight double faults and lost her serve on five occasions.

Tuesday: Defending Champion Kirilenko Survives Scare

Monday: Benesova Spoils Wild Card's Big Day