Lazaro joins Geerlings in the quarter-finals as Mintegi keeps the drama alive at the Vanda Pharmaceuticals Mallorca Women's Championships
Day four of the Vanda Pharmaceuticals Mallorca Women's Championships left the quarter-final line-up nearly complete, with Spain's Andrea Lazaro Garcia joining Ariana Geerlings as second Spanish player in the singles draw. Second seed Laura Samson and sixth seed Tamara Zidansek also progressed after coming through their respective Round of 16 matches.
The standout result for the home contingent came from Andrea Lazaro Garcia, the fifth seed, who battled past Italy's Nuria Brancaccio 6-7(1), 7-5, 6-4 after almost three hours on court. Having narrowly lost a closely contested opening set, the Spaniard responded impressively and showed great composure in the key moments to secure her place in the quarter-finals.
Meanwhile, second seed Laura Samson produced one of the most convincing performances of the week, defeating France's Lucie Nguyen Tan 6-0, 6-3. The Czech controlled proceedings from the outset and never allowed her opponent to settle, booking her place in the last eight with authority.
Sixth seed Tamara Zidansek also advanced comfortably after a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Germany's Joelle Steur. The Slovenian dictated play throughout and wrapped up her place in the quarter-finals in just over an hour.
The doubles draw also completed its semi-final line-up. Argentina's Nicole Fossa Huergo and France's Carole Monnet edged past Aneta Kucmova and Aneta Laboutkova 6-3, 3-6, 10-8 in a closely fought match tie-break. Second seeds Lucija Ciric Bagaric and Angelica Moratelli were equally impressive, cruising past Oana Gavrila and Sapfo Sakellaridi 6-1, 6-1.
The final singles match of the day provided plenty of drama as Spain's Ane Mintegi del Olmo mounted an impressive comeback against Rebeka Masarova. After dropping the opening set 4-6, Mintegi levelled the contest by taking the second-set tie-break. With the score at 4-6, 7-6 and 1-1 in the deciding set, play was suspended due to fading light and will resume on Friday to determine the final quarter-finalist.
The tournament moves into a decisive stage on Friday with the singles quarter-finals and doubles semi-finals on the schedule. Top seed Julia Grabher will open proceedings against Spain's Ariana Geerlings, while Francesca Curmi and Elizara Yaneva will battle for a place in the last four. Tamara Zidansek will discover her quarter-final opponent when the suspended match between Ane Mintegi del Olmo and Rebeka Masarova resumes. One of Friday's standout quarter-final clashes will see Spain's Andrea Lazaro Garcia take on second seed Laura Samson, with a place in the semi-finals at stake.
In doubles, Mallorcan Yvonne Cavallé Reimers and Brazil's Laura Pigossi will take on Germany's Noma Noha Akugue and Joelle Steur for a place in the final, while Nicole Fossa Huergo and Carole Monnet face second seeds Lucija Ciric Bagaric and Angelica Moratelli.