Safarova, Gavrilova put on three-hour show in Birmingham
Grass brings out the best in some players.
With points like that, it's no wonder it took more three hours to decide the champion in the Birmingham quarterfinal between Daria Gavrilova and Lucie Safarova.
Safarova would emerge victorious after saving three match points, 6-7 (4), 6-3, 7-6 (5).
Gavrilova had two match points at 5-3 in the third set, and another at 5-4. She also led 5-3 in the final tiebreaker before Safarova won the final four points.
Maybe the Czech had the slight edge thanks to a lesson she got earlier in the week from Maud Watson, the first women's Wimbledon champion.
The real Watson was born in 1864, and won Wimbledon in 1884 and 1885. Safarova, a one-time French Open finalist, will be hoping that winning blast from the past rubs off on her at the All England Club.
Safarova was forced to withdrew from the doubles quarterfinals with a thigh injury, but will hope to be healthy enough to contest the singles semifinal on Saturday against Petra Kvitova.
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