Kalinskaya Leads Swarm of Seeds in Singapore Quarterfinals

By Tennis Now | @TennisNow  | Thursday, January 30, 2025
Photo credit: Singapore Open Facebook

Elise Mertens made a committed comeback to continue a seed surge in Singapore.

The second-seeded Mertens rallied past Germany’s Tatjana Maria 6-7(3), 6-3, 6-1 into the Singapore Open quarterfinals.

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“It was a tough match today,” Mertens said. “In the first set, I had a bit of a slow start.

“But, overall, I turned the match around well, coming in a bit more aggressive and coming towards the net a little bit to shorten the points and it eventually went my way.”

Mertens will meet Colombia’s Camila Osorio for a semifinal spot. World No. 32 Mertens is 2-0 lifetime vs. the sixth-seeded Osorio; this will be their first meeting on hard courts.

Four of the top six seeds reached the quarterfinals.

Top-seeded Anna Kalinskaya takes on Thailand’s Mananchaya Sawangkaew for a spot in the Singapore semifinals.

Australian Kimberly Birrell pulled off an inspired comeback.

Birrell trailed American Hailey Baptiste 2-5 in the final set before rousing herself through a five-game run to complete a 6-7(3), 6-3, 7-5 comeback victory.

A determined Birrell broke serve four times in a punishing two hour, 50-minute victory.

Next up for Birrell is a showdown with American Anne Li for a place in the semifinals.