Top Seed Grabher battles past Encheva to reach quarter-finals
The third day of the Vanda Pharmaceuticals Mallorca Women's Championships saw the first quarter-final places secured, with top seed Julia Grabher surviving a stern test from Bulgarian lucky loser Lia Encheva and Spanish hopeful Ariana Geerlings emerging victorious in an all-Spanish clash.
Tournament favourite Grabher was pushed to the limit by Encheva, one of the standout performers of the week, before sealing a hard-fought 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 victory after more than two and a half hours on court. The Austrian found herself a set down against the Bulgarian qualifier-turned-lucky loser, who once again showcased the level that has made her one of the tournament's breakthrough stories. However, Grabher's experience proved decisive in the closing stages as she completed the comeback to book her place in the last eight.
Spanish tennis was guaranteed a quarter-finalist in the meeting between Ariana Geerlings and Leyre Cortez Llorca, and it was Geerlings who delivered the stronger performance. The Spaniard controlled the contest from start to finish, claiming a 6-4, 6-2 victory to continue her impressive run in Magaluf.
Fourth seed Marina Bassols Ribera was unable to join her compatriot in the quarter-finals after suffering a comeback defeat to Malta's Francesca Curmi. Bassols appeared on course for victory after taking the opening set, but Curmi raised her level as the match progressed, securing a notable 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 win to advance.
Seventh seed Elizara Yaneva also progressed with authority, dispatching France's Carole Monnet 6-2, 6-2. The Bulgarian dominated from the outset and never allowed her opponent to gain a foothold as she booked her place in the quarter-finals in convincing fashion.
The doubles competition also produced its first completed quarter-finals. Noha Akugue and Joelle Steur eased past Sobolieva and Yaneva 6-1, 6-2 to become the first pair to secure a place in the semi-finals. Joining them in the last four are Yvonne Cavallé Reimers and Laura Pigossi, who edged out Estelle Cascino and Lia Karatancheva 6-3, 5-7, 10-8 in a thrilling match tie-break. The victory keeps Cavallé Reimers, the last remaining Mallorcan player in the draw, in contention for the doubles title.
Attention now turns to Thursday's action, with several second-round singles matches still to be played. Andrea Lazaro Garcia faces Nuria Brancaccio, second seed Laura Samson takes on qualifier Lucie Nguyen Tan, sixth seed Tamara Zidansek meets Joelle Steur, while Spanish former Top 10 player Ane Mintegi del Olmo faces Rebeka Masarova in one of the day's most anticipated encounters.