Emma Navarro, the third seed, saved a match point to complete an impressive comeback during the second round of the HSBC Championships in London on Wednesday. Navarro’s victory highlighted a strong day for American players, who secured a 3-0 record in the round.
Facing Brazil’s Beatriz Haddad Maia, Navarro lost the first set 1-6 but battled back, eventually winning 7-6 (4), 6-3. Haddad Maia had the advantage late in the second set with a 5-4 lead and was ahead 4-2 during the tiebreak, but Navarro’s resilience turned the match in her favor. Her next opponent in the quarterfinals is fellow American and eighth seed Amanda Anisimova, who defeated Britain’s Sonay Kartal 6-1, 6-3 in just over an hour.
Americans Continue Strong Showing at HSBC Championships
Madison Keys, the tournament’s second seed, also advanced to the quarterfinals with a straight-sets win over Russian qualifier Anastasia Zakharova, 6-3, 6-2. After falling behind early 3-1, Keys dominated by winning 11 of the following 13 games. Meanwhile, Germany’s Tatjana Maria stunned sixth-seeded Karolina Muchova from the Czech Republic in three sets, 6-7 (3), 7-5, 6-1, securing her spot in the last eight.
Notable Matches at the Libema Open in the Netherlands
In other WTA action, Canadian qualifier Carson Branstine caused an upset by defeating top-seeded Liudmila Samsonova 6-4, 5-7, 6-1 in ’s-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands. The match was paused on Tuesday and concluded the following day. This marked Branstine’s first WTA main draw match victory at age 24.
Russian player Ekaterina Alexandrova, the second seed, advanced to the quarterfinals after a 6-0, 7-5 victory over Anna Blinkova. She will face countrywoman and eighth seed Veronika Kudermetova, who beat Belgium’s Greet Minnen 6-4, 6-1. Italy’s Elisabetta Cocciaretto also reached the quarterfinal stage by defeating Bernarda Pera 6-1, 7-6 (4). Additionally, Maria Sakkari from Greece and Romania’s Elena-Gabriela Ruse won their first round matches on Wednesday.
Implications and Future Matchups
Emma Navarro’s comeback win under pressure reinforces her determination as she prepares to face Amanda Anisimova, creating a compelling quarterfinal matchup between two top American seeds. Madison Keys and Tatjana Maria’s progress adds to the competitive depth of the tournament. Meanwhile, the upset by Carson Branstine signals rising talent at the Libema Open, where several seeded players remain locked in intense competition. As the HSBC Championships and Libema Open move forward, these results raise expectations for thrilling matches ahead.