Anna Bondar pulled off an impressive upset against top-seeded Ekaterina Alexandrova at the WTA 250 MSC Hamburg Ladies Open, progressing to her fourth career tour-level semi-final. The Hungarian player triumphed over the world No. 16 Alexandrova in a thrilling quarter-final match that lasted nearly three hours, with a final score of 6-7(1) 6-3 7-6(4). This victory marks Bondar’s second win against a Top 20 player, having previously defeated Karolina Pliskova earlier this year in Rome.
In the semi-finals, Bondar will face Slovenia’s Kaja Juvan, who also reached her first tour-level semi-final since 2022 by defeating Leyre Romero Gormaz in a closely contested match. Juvan came from behind after facing several close calls, making her matchup with Bondar particularly interesting.
The lower half of the draw saw second seed Dayana Yastremska overcoming Hungarian Dalma Galfi in a competitive three-set match, securing her third tour-level semi-final this year. Yastremska will face surprise semi-finalist Lois Boisson of France, who advanced with a straightforward victory over Viktoriya Tomova.
Meanwhile, at the WTA 250 UniCredit Iasi Open, Romania’s Jaqueline Cristian and Irina-Camelia Begu are set for an all-Romanian semi-final after each secured victories in their quarter-final matches. Cristian defeated Panna Udvardy, while Begu had a hard-fought match against Anna Siskova. The tournament in Iasi also witnessed Sorana Cirstea advancing swiftly to the semi-finals, displaying strong performance after dropping just five games against Maria Lourdes Carle.
The outcomes in both Hamburg and Iasi highlight a vibrant competitive spirit among players, with up-and-coming talents rising to the occasion while established players look to secure their standings. This weekend promises exciting matches as players vie for the opportunity to reach the title rounds in their respective tournaments.