The former World Number 35, Polona Hercog was halted by the Romanian, Simona Halep in the third round of the Miami Open 2019. In the Florida swing, she was a lucky loser contestant in the main draw and gave a tough time to World Number two tennis player. Despite her 5-7, 7-6(1), 6-2 trounce in Miami, Polono Hercog strides into the Samsung Open finals by edging past the Frenchwoman, Fiona Ferro.
In the opening set, Polona Hercog raced to hold a 5-2 lead, but nevertheless, the Frenchwoman battled to stay longer in the semifinal encounter. She got a chance to break Ferro early in the second set which benefitted Polona Hercog to seal her victory in the Swiss tournament in Lugano.
It's @PolonaHercog who claims the first set, 7-5 💪#SamsungOpen pic.twitter.com/kpRFaBWZun
— WTA (@WTA) April 13, 2019
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
The six-feet tall Slovenian player, Polona Hercog moved efficiently on the red dirt and consequently clinched a 7-5, 6-4 against the 22-year-old, Ferro. Till now she has two WTA titles her name, in Mexico and Korea and nine years later, she eyes for her third WTA singles crown.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
.@PolonaHercog makes her first final on the WTA tour this season!
She claims the match over Ferro, 7-5, 6-4. 👏#SamsungOpen pic.twitter.com/njN7aHdRWr
— WTA (@WTA) April 13, 2019
“I will just go out there and enjoy it. I have been in this situation last year, I want to enjoy the moment. I will try to play my best tennis and I think that’s the key,” Hercog uttered after she reserved her spot in the Ladies Open Lugano 2019 finals.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Before her semi-final victory, Polona Hercog tussled to survive in the tournament during her pre-quarterfinal match. She was playing Sorana Cirstea and dropped her opening set against the Romanian. However, the Slovenian held a 3-6, 7-6(0), 6-4 against Cirstea and kept her title hopes alive.
In the finals, Polona Hercog will meet Iga Swiatek from Poland or the Czech Republican Kristyna Pliskova. Pliskova ousted the two-time Grand Slam champion, Svetlana Kuznetsova in their quarterfinal encounter yesterday and obstructed the 33-year-old Russian from making a comeback in the sport of tennis.
Challenge Your Sports Knowledge!
Solve the puzzle and prove your knowledge of iconic players, terms, and moments.