Belinda Bencic and Victoria Azarenka move into the semi-finals

Swiss number one Belinda Bencic's journey continues at the bett1open in Berlin (12 to 20 June): In the quarter-finals of the WTA grass-court tournament with prize money of 456,073 euros, the world number twelve defeated Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 after 2:31 hours in temperatures well above 30 degrees. The 2019 US Open semi-finalist will now face Alizé Cornet in the semi-finals on Saturday. The Frenchwoman prevailed after a tough battle against sixth-seeded Spaniard Garbiñe Muguruza. After 2:40 hours, the world No. 63 converted her fifth match point to win 4:6, 6:3, 7:6.

"I played well, but I still have to work on myself. The tournament here in Berlin was a very good preparation for Wimbledon," said former Wimbledon winner (2017) Muguruza, who had a match point herself at 5-4 in the third set but could not convert it.

The second semi-final of the bett1open will be contested by Russian Liudmila Samsonova and seventh seed Victoria Azarenka (Belarus) at the Steffi Graf Stadium on Saturday. The former world number one and Australian Open winner in 2012 and 2013 won her fourth final late on Friday night against Jessica Pegula of the United States 6-2, 5-7, 6-4, after Azarenka had already beaten Germans Andrea Petkovic and Angelique Kerber. Samsonova paved her way to the semi-finals with a 7-6, 2-6, 7-6 win over Madison Keys (USA).