On Wednesday, Germany’s Laura Siegemund made history at the Thailand Open in Hua Hin by defeating fifth-seeded Chinese player Wang Xiyu in a marathon match that lasted four hours and nine minutes. The epic contest, which ended 7-6 (3), 4-6, 7-6 (1), marked the fourth-longest match in the WTA Open Era, underscoring the intensity of both players’ performances on the court.
A Historic Battle of Endurance
Siegemund’s victory was particularly notable as it became the first match since the 2011 Australian Open to surpass the four-hour mark. That historic 2011 encounter saw Francesca Schiavone outlast Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-4, 1-6, 16-14, in a 4-hour-44-minute thriller. While Siegemund’s battle with Wang didn’t last as long, it still tested the limits of both players’ stamina and resolve.
The German was down 3-1 in the first set but clawed back to win the set in a tiebreak. After dropping the second set 4-6, she once again had to fight her way back from the brink, saving a match point at 6-5 in the third set. Siegemund then mounted a spectacular comeback, winning nine of the last 10 points to seal the victory in another tense tiebreak. Her ability to maintain focus and push through fatigue proved decisive, propelling her into the next round of the Thailand Open.
This was the only singles match completed on Wednesday, as rain delays disrupted much of the day’s schedule. Despite the conditions, Siegemund’s triumph was the standout moment of the tournament so far.
Russian Dominance at the Korean Open
Meanwhile, Russian players continued to dominate at the Korean Open in Seoul. In an all-Russian showdown, Veronika Kudermetova comfortably defeated second seed Liudmila Samsonova 6-4, 6-2, booking her place in the quarterfinals. Kudermetova now leads Samsonova 5-2 in their head-to-head record, with three of those victories coming in 2023.
Kudermetova’s progress to the quarterfinals mirrors that of her younger sister Polina, who also secured a spot in the final eight earlier in the week. The siblings have both been performing impressively in Seoul, adding to the Russian presence in the later stages of the tournament.
Elsewhere, fourth-seeded Russian Diana Shnaider eased past Canada’s Carol Zhao in just 67 minutes with a 6-3, 6-3 victory. Ukraine’s fifth seed Marta Kostyuk also cruised through to the next round, defeating Britain’s Heather Watson 6-2, 6-2 in 75 minutes. The Korean Open continues showcasing top-level performances from Russian and Ukrainian athletes as they progress deeper into the tournament.
