Sao Paulo Shocks: Underdogs Dominate WTA Quarterfinals
Sao Paulo witnessed a stunning upset Friday as four lower-seeded players advanced to the semifinals of the SP Open, overturning expectations adn reshaping the tournament landscape. The results signal a potential shift in momentum within the WTA circuit, demonstrating the rising competitiveness beyond established stars.
The SP Open’s quarterfinal round delivered a series of surprising victories, highlighting the depth of talent emerging on the tour. These results not only impact the immediate contenders for the Sao Paulo title but also foreshadow a possibly more unpredictable season as these players gain confidence and visibility. The semifinals,set for Saturday,will pit Renata Zarazua against Tiantso Rakotomanga Rajaonah and Janice Tjen against Francesca Jones.
Mexican Renata Zarazua, ranked fifth, delivered the most important shock of the day, defeating top-seeded Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia 7-6 (5), 6-3 in a grueling two-hour, 15-minute match. Zarazua overcame a first-set deficit, rallying from 5-3 down and then from 5-4 in the tiebreaker, before securing the win with a break in the penultimate game. This victory comes on the heels of Zarazua’s impressive performance at the U.S. Open last month, where she eliminated Madison Keys.
Elsewhere, unseeded Indonesian Janice Tjen dispatched No. 3 seed Alexandra Eala of the Philippines 6-4, 6-1. Tjen’s dominant performance included saving both break points faced and converting all 12 second-return opportunities. Great Britain’s Francesca Jones continued the trend of upsets, taking down No. 2 seed Solana sierra of Argentina 6-3,6-4. Rounding out the quarterfinal surprises, unseeded Frenchwoman Tiantso Rakotomanga Rajaonah eliminated Hungary’s No. 8 seed Panna Udvardy 6-2, 6-4.
In Guadalajara, Canada’s Marina Stakusic completed a victory suspended from Thursday night, defeating No. 3 seed jelena Ostapenko of Latvia 6-4, 6-7 (6), 6-2.The 20-year-old Stakusic, ranked 155th, seized a 4-0 lead in the deciding set, capitalizing on 13 double faults by Ostapenko and converting 5 of 6 break points. Stakusic will face Colombia’s Emiliana Arango in a Friday evening quarterfinal.
France’s Elsa Jacquemot also secured a quarterfinal win, upsetting sixth-seeded German Tatjana Maria 3-6, 6-4, 6-4.
