In the most incredible way and in a match full of reversals, Elisabetta Cocciaretto beats Diana Shnaider and takes the semi-final of the WTA in Birmingham. She finishes 5-7 6-4 6-2 in 2 hours and 24 minutes for the Italian, who comes back when it seemed all over and takes great satisfaction by showing further progress on grass, the surface on which she reached the third of Wimbledon round in 2023.
the match
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Elisabetta tries to get the ball rolling in the fifth game, after 4 games dominated by serves. But the Russian clings to the match and holds her serve. The problem returns at 3-3, in the seventh game. It is there that the girl from the Marche creates the break, which she is unable to keep in the next game (she loses the serve at 0). It’s 4-4 and the game has lost a bit of logic, but Cocciaretto takes care of it with 3 points in a row, which turns everything around from 40-30 to the opponent. At 5-4 Elisabetta serves for the set, but at the change of court Diana asks for a medical time-out due to back problems. She comes back and transforms, finding the break that calls everything into question (also canceling a set point). Cocciaretto feels the pinch and Shnaider closes 7-5.
the end
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The match ran away in the first set and in the second the momentum completely changed, with Diana finding the break for 4-2, which seemed to determine the end. But out of nowhere Cocciaretto finds the strength to score a sensational score of 16 points to 5, which wins the set and takes the match to the third. The Russian gets nervous, struggles to keep her serve in the first game of the decisive set and then loosens up, suffering yet another break, which brings Elisabetta back ahead. Diana doesn’t give up and erases 5 break points in the interminable fifth game. It’s not enough, because Cocciaretto erases the risk of a counter-break and then extends 5-2. When needed for the match the Italian does not tremble and closes a very long match 6-2.
