Magdalena Rybarikova recovered from dropping an epic first set tie-break to defeat top seed Kirsten Flipkens in the Memphis quarterfinals. Sometimes in tennis, one bad game can prove the difference between winning and losing.
For Kirsten Flipkens, that game came at 6-5 down in the second set of her US National Indoor Tennis Championships quarterfinal with Magdalena Rybarikova.
Having pipped Rybarikova to the opening set on an epic tie-break, the second appeared to be heading in the same direction. But, at this least opportune of moments, the top seed’s previously unflappable serve faltered as Rybarikova broke to love to force a decider.
“I think the difference was in the second set when she was leading 6-5, I had a bad game,” Flipkens said. “It’s a shame because you’re fighting for every point and then you have a bad game and the set is finished.”
Unfortunately for the Belgian, half an hour later, history repeated itself; another loose service game, this time at 4-3 down, allowed Rybarikova to capture the vital break before serving out for a 67(11) 75 63 victory moments later.
Meeting Rybarikova for a place in the final will be No.3 seed Sabine Lisicki, who produced her best display of the week to defeat Kristina Mladenovic, 63 63.
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