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Top 5 Photos of the Day, June 15: Saturday's semis, Riske into finals

Kiki Bertens thrilled her home crowd, while Caroline Garcia's semifinal match against Jennifer Brady was suspended due to rain.

By Jordaan Sanford
Top 5 Photos of the Day, June 15: Saturday's semis, Riske into finals

Saturday's semifinal matchups were thrilling and unexpected as some battles went the distance, one never started, and another is on-going. These are the Top 5 photos of the day.

1. American Alison Riske rallied past Veronika Kudermetova, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (5), to enter into her eighth WTA final. The American will be battling against Kiki Bertens for her first title since 2014. "I'm so emotional right now because honestly I didn't feel like I was going to win that match," Riske said.

US' Alison Riske reacts after her match against Russia's Veronika Kudermetova at the Libema Open grass tournament in Rosmalen on June 15, 2019. - Riske is the first confirmed finalist of the tournament. (Photo by Piroschka van de Wouw / ANP / AFP) / Netherlands OUT (Photo credit should read PIROSCHKA VAN DE WOUW/AFP/Getty Images)
© AFP/Getty Images

2. Milos Raonic was slated to play compatriot Felix Auger-Aliassime in the Stuttgart semifinal on Saturday. Unfortunately, Raonic would withdraw before the battle of the Canadians commenced due to back problems​. The former Wimbledon finalist skipped this year's clay-court season with a knee injury.

STUTTGART, GERMANY - JUNE 15: Milos Raonic ( CAN ) cancels his match due to an injury ahead of the second Semifinal match at Tennisclub Weissenhof on June 15, 2019 in Stuttgart, Germany. (Photo by Christian Kaspar-Bartke/Bongarts/Getty Images)
© Bongarts/Getty Images

3. Matteo Berrettini had never entered a grass-court semifinals before this year's Mercedes Open. The Italian battled past home favorite Jan-Lennard Struff, 6-4, 7-5, on Saturday to reach his fourth championship match of 2019. He will attempt to capture his first grass-court title against Canadian sensation Felix Auger-Aliassime.

STUTTGART, GERMANY - JUNE 15: Matteo Berrettini ( ITA ) celebrates after victory after the first Semifinal match at Tennisclub Weissenhof on June 15, 2019 in Stuttgart, Germany. (Photo by Christian Kaspar-Bartke/Bongarts/Getty Images)
© Bongarts/Getty Images

4. Kiki Bertens suffered an unexpected illness in Paris, forcing her to retire from her second-round match at Roland Garros. However, she's back on the court thrilling her home crowd at the Libéma Open. On Saturday, she defeated qualifier Elena Rybakina, 6-4, 6-4, to claim her spot in the tournament's final.​

Kiki Bertens of The Netherlands returms the ball against Elena Rybakina of Kazachstan during the Women's semi-final WTA Libema Open Rosmalen tennis tournament in Rosmalen on June 15, 2019. (Photo by Piroschka van de Wouw / ANP / AFP) / Netherlands OUT (Photo credit should read PIROSCHKA VAN DE WOUW/AFP/Getty Images)
© AFP/Getty Images

5. Caroline Garcia's semifinal against American Jennifer Brady in Nottingham was full of ups and downs, and the rain made the affair even more challenging. Their match is currently suspended at 4-6, 6-3, 4-3.

NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND - JUNE 15: Caroline Garcia of France plays against Jennifer Brady of United States during day six of the Nature Valley Open at Nottingham Tennis Centre on June 15, 2019 in Nottingham, United Kingdom. (Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images for LTA)
© Getty Images for LTA