Andorran Vicky Jiménez Reaches WTA Mérida Open Quarterfinals

Andorran tennis player Vicky Jiménez has reached the quarterfinals of the WTA Mérida Open in Mexico, defeating Poland's Magda Linette 7-5, 6-7, 5-7 in a grueling three-set match that lasted three hours and 23 minutes.

The world No. 122 overcame the eighth seed and No. 47, battling strong winds and intense rallies. Jiménez lost the first set after holding serve for a potential tiebreak. She trailed 1-3 in the second but forced a tiebreak, saving two set points before converting her third to level the score at one set apiece. In the decider, she broke early to lead 1-4, only for Linette to level at 5-5. Jiménez then held firm, converting her third match point to secure the win.

This marks one of Jiménez's most significant victories, following her September triumph over then-No. 25 Veronika Kudermetova in Mexico. She became the first player to book a quarterfinal place here, with projections placing her at No. 94—her career high and a return to the top 100. Her next opponent is the winner of Shuai Zhang and No. 20 Emma Navarro.

Jiménez earned her spot with prior wins. After qualifying past Italy's Miriana Tona (No. 386) 6-3, 6-4 in 93 minutes, she upset Kazakhstan's Yulia Putintseva (No. 77), a former top-30 player who reached the Australian Open last 16 this year, 6-4, 1-6, 6-4 over 2 hours and 32 minutes. Down 0-3 in the opener, she reeled off four straight games with two breaks to lead 4-3, closing on her first set point. Putintseva dominated the second with six consecutive games in 30 minutes. In the third, after Putintseva led 2-4, Jiménez won four in a row to triumph on match point.

In doubles, Jiménez and Ukraine's Valeriya Strakhova fell 1-6, 6-4, 5-10 to Spain's Cristina Bucsa and China's Jiang Xinyu.