By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Friday October 7, 2022
Claire Liu stormed the net and squeaked past Ons Jabeur to reach the semis at the Monastir Open in Tunisia.
Photo Source: Oracle
Claire Liu played attacking tennis to a T on Friday in Tunisia, and came away with a giant reward.
The 73rd-ranked American, playing at a career-high ranking and fresh off her first WTA 500 quarterfinal a few weeks back in Tokyo, edged World No.2 Ons Jabeur at the Monastir Open, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, for her first Top-10 win.
Liu couldn’t quiet the frothy support for home hero Jabeur, who was cheered from start to finish by the loyal Tunisian fans, but she did come away with a masterful victory that places her in her second semifinal of 2022.
Liu, who played the final in Rabat in May, converted six of seven break points and won nearly half of her return points as she pressured Jabeur with an all-out net game and crisp volleys that allowed her to dictate the terms.
22-year-old Liu, a former Wimbledon girls singles champion, advances to face Elise Mertens of Belgium in the semifinals.
The American was 0-9 against Top-20 opposition prior to Friday’s win. Her previous best win had come against Brazil’s Beatriz Haddad Maia (ranked 25) this summer in San Jose.
France’s Alizé Cornet, who defeated Tamara Zidansek 7-5, 7-6(7), will face Russia’s Veronika Kudermetova in the semis. Kudermetova defeated Diane Parry, 6-4, 6-1 on Friday.