By Erik Gudris | Thursday, February 27, 2014
Though top seed Dominika Cibulkova made her expected way into the semis, Christina McHale and Carolina Garcia both earned surprise wins in Acapulco.
Photo Credit: Corleve
Several surprise upset winners made their mark in the quarterfinals of the Abierto Mexicano Telcel event in Acapulco. But top seed Dominika Cibulkova avoided being surprised herself despite trailing in the second set.
Cibulkova, taking on New Zealand's Marina Erakovic, claimed the first set 6-4. Erakovic though took early control of the second set by going out to a 3-1 lead.
Cibulkova fought back and eventually won 6-4, 7-5, setting up a meeting with No. 8 seed Shuai Zhang, who beat Ajla Tomljanovic 6-1, 5-7, 6-2.
McHale, Garcia Earn Surprise Wins
American Christina McHale secured one of her best wins of the new season despite dropping the opening set to No. 3 seed Kaia Kanepi. McHale rallied and soon completed the 6-1, 2-6, 6-4 win.
Acapulco marks the first semifinal for the American since reaching the same round in Quebec City last year.
The biggest shock of the day came in the late evening when France's Caroline Garcia met No. 2 seed Eugenie Bouchard of Canada.
Although the 89th ranked Garcia entered the event on a 10-match losing streak, the Frenchwoman came up with inspired play to post a 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 win.
The victory for Garcia is not only her first ever over a top 20 player but it also sends her into her first ever WTA semifinal where she will meet McHale.