EASTBOURNE, England (AP) " Monica Puig became the first qualifier to reach the Eastbourne International semifinals in three years though it took her nearly three hours to get there on Thursday. In the final set, Puig broke in the first and final games to secure victory. Puig, a Puerto Rican, needed 2 hours, 43 minutes to overcome Kristina Mladenovic of France 7-6 (6), 4-6, 6-3, and become the first qualifier in the semis since American Jamie Hampton in 2013. Both players struggled to hold serve, with Puig facing 23 break points in the match and Mladenovic 13. In the second set, Mladenovic also failed to win three set points at 5-2 and to serve out the set at 5-3 before breaking in the 10th game.

Source: New Zealand Herald June 23, 2016 15:21 UTC