Suzan Lamens has reached the quarterfinals of the WTA tournament in Rosmalen on Thursday. The 25-year-old from Berkel defeated the American Ann Li in the second round: 7-6 (4) and 7-6 (5). Lamens is the only remaining Dutch player in the tournament.
Lamens faced Li, the number 53 in the world. The Dutch player is 72nd in the world ranking. After two hours and twenty minutes, Lamens converted her second match point.
In the first set, Lamens and her one-year-younger opponent were evenly matched for a long time. At a score of 3-4, Lamens carelessly surrendered her service game, but she fought back with a break. Lamens was better in the ensuing tiebreak.
Lamens managed to carry that good play into the second set. She did lose her own service game three times, but so did Li. Another tiebreak was needed, in which Lamens dominated the American on serve.
In the quarterfinals, Lamens will face the Italian Elisabetta Cocciaretto, the number 123 in the world. The two tennis players have never faced each other before. Michaëlla Krajicek is still the only Dutch tennis player to have won the tournament in Rosmalen. That was in 2006.
Lamens is the only Dutch player still in action in Rosmalen. Jesper de Jong and Anouk Koevermans, Arianne Hartono and Isis van den Broek were eliminated earlier. Botic van de Zandschulp and former winner Tallon Griekspoor were also supposed to participate in the grass tournament, but withdrew due to injuries.