By Tennis Now | Saturday, June 16, 2018
Aleksandra Krunic saved a match point squeezing out a 2-6, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (1) comeback conquest of CoCo Vandeweghe in 's-Hertogenbosch.
Photo credit: Libéma Open
Aleksandra Krunic staged a spirited comeback to reach her second career final in 's-Hertogenbosch.
Rallying from a set and a break down, the seventh-seeded Serbian saved a match point in the decider squeezing out a 2-6, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (1) comeback conquest of CoCo Vandeweghe in today's first semifinal.
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Krunic will play Belgian veteran Kirsten Flipkens in tomorrow's final.
The 60th-ranked Flipkens edged Viktoria Kuzmova, 7-5, 6-7 (7), 6-4, advancing to her first final since the 2016 Monterrey.
The 2013 Wimbledon semifinalist is playing for her second career title and first since winning the 2012 Québec City crown.
A crafty Krunic withstood 18 aces from the top-seeded American.
Two-time champion Vandeweghe won 10 of the first 14 games building a 6-2, 4-2 lead, but Krunic made a stand.
The 55th-ranked Krunic fended off a pair of break points holding for 5-4 then played a cleaner tie break to level the match.
The pair traded breaks midway through the final set.
Krunic fended off a match point on a Vandeweghe error in the 10th game.
Playing with more control and care in the tie break, Krunic exploited an erratic Vandeweghe closing in two hours, 35 minutes.
It is Krunic's first final since the 2017 Guangzhou.
"It's my second final, so it definitely feels amazing," Krunic told WTA Tennis.com. "It's not like I'm playing them every week, so I'm very happy that I'm improving and I'm being consistent.
"There are a lot of positives I can take from this match and I'm looking forward to tomorrow."