Irina Begu through to semifinals in Istanbul

Romanian tennis player Irina Begu, seeded 3rd, qualified for the semifinals of the WTA tournament in Istanbul, with prizes worth 226,750 US dollars, on Friday, after defeated Turkish Basak Eraydin in three sets, with a score of 2-6, 7-6 (5), 6-1.

Begu (aged 26), WTA's 33rd, gaining the victory in a marathon match that lasted two hours and 45 minutes, managing to surpass a modest opponent, namely Eraydin (aged 22, WTA's 257th ), who came from qualifications. Irina Begu secured a 11,500-US-dollar cheque and 100 WTA points, and in the semifinals she will face off the winner of the event between Jana Cepelova (Slovakia, aged 23, WTA's 97th) and Daiana Iastremska (Ukraine, aged 16, WTA's 420th).

On Friday also Sorana Cirstea, seeded 5th, will play in the quarter-finals with the main seed Elina Svitolina (Ukraine).

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