STUTTGART, Germany: Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek crashed out of the Stuttgart Open quarter-finals on Friday, while Elena Rybakina battled through a three-set thriller against Leylah Fernandez to book a semi-final clash with Mirra Andreeva.
Gauff’s claycourt season began on a shaky note as she fell 6-3 5-7 6-3 to Karolina Muchova. The world number three, who had won all six of their previous meetings on hard courts, struggled on her forehand and dropped a set to Muchova for the first time.
The American recovered to take the second set but Muchova proved more clinical in the decider, saving five break points and securing the only break for a 4-2 lead she did not relinquish.
“It’s always very tough against her. She’s a tough player… I think the third set was a battle. It was very physical as well, and I’m glad I managed the first break and then I was able to keep it going,” Muchova said.
Muchova will face Elina Svitolina in the semi-finals after the fourth seed beat Linda Noskova 7-6(2) 7-5.
Eighteen-year-old Andreeva stunned Swiatek 3-6 6-4 6-3 in their first meeting on clay, marking her third consecutive victory over the six-time Grand Slam champion.
Swiatek recovered from an early break to take the opening set, but Andreeva held firm in the second to force a decider before sealing victory.
“I think my baseline game was fine, and I see progress there compared to the last tournaments. But for sure, overall, it wasn’t enough,” Swiatek said.
Rybakina edged Fernandez 6-7(5) 6-4 7-6(6) after a gruelling contest to reach the last four, where she will meet Andreeva.
“I was pretty negative from the beginning of the match, nothing was working, so I was just trying to play point at a time,” Rybakina said.
