03 March 2020

Anna Karolina Schmiedlova pulls off huge upset against Venus Williams at Monterrey Open

Slovakia's Anna Karolina Schmiedlova stunned Venus Williams in a thrilling three-set match to book her place in the second round of the Monterrey Open.

The 25 year-old world No 95 came from a set down to win 4-6 6-3 6-2 in two hours and 29 minutes in Mexico.

After Williams raced into a 5-1 lead early on, Schmiedlova fought back to within a game of levelling things up, before the seven-time Grand Slam champion broke to take the opening set.

But the Slovak did not let that deter her as she began to read Williams' serve in the second set, breaking three times to force the match to a decider.

And a spectacular start to the final set saw the underdog build a 4-0 lead that proved enough to see her over the line as Schmiedlova held her nerve to move into the second round.

After the match, Schmiedlova said: "It's one of the best wins of my life. I'm very happy it happened here in Monterrey.

"I came here from qualifying, just to be here to play someone as great as Venus Williams, so I'm very thankful. I haven't had an easy last year and beginning of this year, so I'm grateful for every win."

Schmiedlova will now face Marie Bouzkova for a place in the quarter-finals.

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