by The French player edged out a win over the Maltese in straight sets, 6-3, 7-5, in the W100 Figueira da Foz, Portugal.
Opening Set
Harmony Tan opened on serve and though she chalked up a couple of points, the Maltese returned fire and secured an early break. Curmi then held serve to extend to 2-0. However, the French player got on the scoreboard in the next service game with a hold to love, before eyeing two break point chances in the next game. Though Curmi cancelled both to force a deuce, Tan evened the breaks and the scores by winning the first deuce.
Having shifted the momentum in her favour, Tan served up a strong game, holding with an ace to nudge into the lead for the first time at 3-2. Though Curmi served up an ace of her own in the game, Tan was not to be stopped and secured a second break of serve to extend the lead to 4-2.
Though Curmi arrested Tan’s momentum by breaking straight back, the French player maintained the advantage in the next service game. At 5-3, the French player closed the set 6-3 by holding serve.
Final Set
The second set kicked off in an exact reverse of the first. This time it was Tan who secured the early break, before the two players held serve until 4-3. With games running out, Curmi evened the breaks in the next service game by breaking to love. Though Tan eyed two break points in the next game, the Maltese cancelled both before securing the hold with the third deuce, nudging into the lead for the first time, 5-4.
At this point, Tan faced the pressure to hold to stay in the set and though it was another tight game that went to deuce, the French player did not falter and extended the set. At 5-5, she then used her momentum to break Curmi’s serve in the next game with the only break point opportunity. The French player showed no hesitance to serve for the match, holding to love to win the set 7-5, and the match in straight sets.
The victory takes Harmony Tan into the quarter-finals where she will contest the Chinese player and world number 138 Zhuoxuan Bai. The latter progressed following a commanding 6-1, 6-1, victory against the Spaniard Irene Burillo Escorihuela.
Photos: Portuguese Tennis Federation / Tennis Majors
