Casanova continues winning streak

Casanova returns the ball during her quarter-final match against Martina Müller in Brussels Keystone

The Swiss teenager, Myriam Casanova, has continued her recent winning streak by making it through to the semi-finals of the WTA tournament in Brussels.

While there was disappointment for Marc Rosset on the men’s circuit on Friday, the 17-year-old rising star from eastern Switzerland was cruising through to the last four.

Following her recent amazing run at Wimbledon, Casanova booked her place in the semi-final by defeating Germany’s Martina Müller in straight sets, 6-4, 7-5.

Victory over Müller was particularly sweet for the Swiss player, who has now managed to make amends for her own defeat at the hands of her German opponent in the final of April’s Budapest Open.

Promising season

The win also continues a promising debut season for Casanova, who reached the third round at the Wimbledon tournament last month.

“Myriam played a good match,” said Casanova’s personal trainer and father, Leo.

In Saturday’s semi-final match, Casanova will face the Spanish player, Virginia Ruano-Pascual (WTA 85), who saw off Austria’s Barbara Schett in three sets (6-4, 3-6, 6-1).

The winner of that tie will go on to face either top-seeded Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario or France’s Emilie Loit.

Ranked 180th before Wimbledon, Casanova leapt up 61 places to 119th in the latest standings, published on Monday.

If she continues in her current form, the St Gallen-based player is likely to earn herself a place in September’s US Open – without having to slog her way through the qualifying rounds.

swissinfo with agencies