Coming to the Volvo Car Open, world No.37 Laura Siegemund had won only one singles match in 2017, but at the Premier-level tournament in Charleston the German was victorious in two three-setters, the last one being an epic 6-4 6-7(3) 7-5 triumph over legend Venus Williams in the second round on Wednesday.
In an encounter that lasted over three hours, both players displayed remarkable aggressive tennis, evident in their positive winners-to-unforced-errors differential: Siegemund hit 52 winners to 41 unforced errors, while the third-seeded Williams recorded 45 winners and 39 unforced errors.
The 29-year-old Siegemund, who saved two match points in the third set when Williams served for the victory, did have similar matches earlier this year, but she was losing them and her confidence was shrinking.