Yulia Putintseva got here out on the improper finish of a late-night battle in opposition to No.6 seed Beatriz Haddad Maia within the second spherical of the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open, falling 6-4, 6-7(5), 7-6(4) after 3 hours and 13 minutes.
However the Kazakh left followers incredulous after pulling off a pair of absurd defensive escapes deep within the third set. Scampering throughout each inch of the court docket and past, Putintseva proved unattainable for Haddad Maia to hit via — and had the presence of thoughts to complete each absurd rallies with the flourish of a winner.
Haddad Maia had already been unable to see off Putintseva regardless of serving for the match twice within the second set. Putintseva had saved three match factors within the first of these, an eight-deuce tussle that she took to stage at 5-5. The World No.45 had additionally trailed 5-3 within the second-set tiebreak, and 3-0 within the third set.
Nevertheless, two errors of judgment price her simply as she lastly took the lead. Serving for the match at 5-4, 30-15, Putintseva stopped the purpose to problem a Haddad Maia shot that had in reality landed on the baseline. Trailing 5-4 within the ensuing tiebreak, she acquired some extent penalty for an audible obscenity, handing Haddad Maia a fourth match level. The Brazilian duly transformed it to triumph within the second-longest tour-level match of the 2023 season thus far.
Images: All of this 12 months’s three-hour matches
Haddad Maia accomplished an ideal day for seeds in Abu Dhabi, becoming a member of No.1 Daria Kasatkina, No.3 Elena Rybakina and No.8 Liudmila Samsonova in victory. She’s going to face No.4 Veronika Kudermetova within the quarterfinals.
Information Abstract:
- Sensational! Yulia Putintseva hangs powerful in absurd Abu Dhabi rallies
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