WTA: Putintseva surprises Stephens, Barthel has to wait

Yulia Putintseva beats Sloane Stephens in the tiebreak of the third set. The duel between Kiki Bertens and Mona Barthel has been postponed to Thursday.

The match between Sloane Stevens and Yulia Putintseva lasted exactly three hours spread over two days. And in the longest match in the history of the Nuremberg tournament, the 23-year-old Kazakh woman had the better end for herself. Putintseva won the first round game, which was interrupted on Tuesday evening around 8.25 pm, 5:7, 6:4, 7:6 (7:3).

The fans got their money’s worth, they got to see great women’s tennis with a heartbeat final. In the tie-break of the decisive set Putintseva took her chance at 6:3 and turned the match point ice-cold. In the first interview, the surprise winner thanked the audience “for the great support”. And Sloane Stephens said goodbye from Nuremberg with the words: “I came here to play a few matches, but that didn’t happen. Life goes on. I enjoyed my stay in Nuremberg and will gladly remember it.”

While Stephens and Putintseva were still playing in bright sunshine, in Petkovic’s match against Madison Brengle (USA), Sorana Cirstea (Rou) raised dark clouds above the Center Court. After the first set, which Sorea won 6:3, heavy rain started – after the break Brengle won the second set 6:3, the third set went back to Cirstea.

Yulia Putintseva’s evening round of sixteen against Alison Riske from the USA has been postponed to Thursday due to new rains. Also the game between defending champion Kiki Bertens against Mona Barthel (game starts at 10 am).