Tatjana Maria of Germany secured her spot in the quarter-finals of the WTA 500 Guadalajara Open on Wednesday, overcoming Canadian competitor Rebecca Marino in straight sets, 6-3, 7-5. The match lasted one hour and 30 minutes and showcased Maria’s resilient gameplay against the powerful strikes of her opponent. She joins 19-year-old Nikola Bartunkova in the next round, who triumphed in an all-Czech battle against Darja Vidmanova, winning 6-3, 6-2.
Reflecting on her victory, Maria expressed satisfaction with her performance, stating, “It was a good match, she is a very challenging, powerful player. I knew I had to give everything from the first to the last point.” Despite facing challenges at the start of the second set, where she fell behind, Maria maintained her focus and fought back to clinch the match.
This victory marks Maria’s third quarter-final appearance of the season, having previously secured a title at the WTA 500 Queen’s Club Championships and reached the quarter-finals in Bogotá. At 38 years old, she continues to prove that age is no barrier to success in professional tennis.
The first set was dominated by Maria’s strategic use of slices and her ability to return Marino’s aggressive shots effectively. As the match progressed, she gained confidence, putting increasing pressure on the Canadian player. Despite Marino’s strong start in the second set, winning the first three games, Maria managed to break back and ultimately secure the win.
In the opening match of the day, Nikola Bartunkova made her mark by defeating Darja Vidmanova in their first-round matchup. Bartunkova, ranked 228th and a junior Wimbledon finalist in 2023, received a wildcard entry for the tournament. The teen capitalized on her strong serving, winning 80% of her first serves, and demonstrated effective play by breaking her opponent at pivotal moments.
Meanwhile, Italy’s Lucrezia Stefanini faced off against former US Open champion Sloane Stephens, emerging victorious after a closely contested three-set match that was suspended due to rain. Stefanini won 6-4, 4-6, 6-1, wrapping up the match in just over two hours. The contest saw Stephens initially take control with a strong performance in the second set, but she ultimately could not maintain her momentum in the decider.
Stephens, now ranked 1,051 after peaking at number 3 in her career, faces ongoing challenges as she searches for her first victory of the season, marking her fifth loss this year. She will be looking to rebound as the tournament progresses.
As the Guadalajara Open continues, tennis fans are eagerly anticipating the next set of matches, eager to see how the emerging talents and seasoned players fare as they vie for the trophy.
