Russian Kudermetova takes out Pegula in topsy-turvy clash to reach semi-finals in Madrid

Russian Veronika Kudermetova, the No 12 seed, reached her first ever WTA Masters 1000 semi-final after she upended last year’s finalist, third seed Jessica Pegula, 6-4, 0-6, 6-4 at the Madrid Open on Wednesday.

Kudermetova, ranked No 13, will face the winner of the match between world No 1 Iga Swiatek, the top seed, and Croat Petra Martic, the No 27 seed, next.

Kudermetova survives second-set wipeout

In their first meeting, Kudermetova took the first set thanks to three breaks to Pegula’s two but the second set was a total turnaround as Pegula ripped through it for the loss of just five points.

But at the start of the deciding set, Kudermetova, who had won each of her three previous rounds also in three sets, bounced back.

The Russian broke serve in the first game and though she was pegged back for 2-2, she broke again for 4-3 and this time, held on to reach the semi-finals of a WTA Masters 1000 for the first time.

Despite her defeat, Pegula will remain No 3 when the rakings are updated on Monday.

Earlier in the tournament, the Russian won against Spanish qualifier Nuria Parrizas Diaz (6-3, 4-6, 6-2), No 21 seed Anastasia Potapova (7-6 (3), 5-7, 6-3) and No 8 seed Daria Kasatkina (7-5, 1-6, 7-6 (2)).

Pegula, ranked No 3, beat Pole qualifier Magdalena Frech (7-6 (5), 6-3), Czech Marie Bouzkova, the No 29 seed (6-4, 7-6 (2)) and Italian Martina Trevisan, the No 18 seed (6-3, 2-6, 6-3) in the previous rounds of the Madrid tournament.

Madrid WTA 1000, other last eight results (Caja Magica, clay, USD 7.652.174, most recent results first):

• Iga Swiatek vs. Petra Martic
• Maria Sakkari (9) beat Irina-Camelia Begu (31): 6-7 (3), 6-4, 6-2
• Aryna Sabalenka (2) beat Mayar Sherif: 2-6, 6-2, 6-1