Bertens Outlasts Keys in Epic SF, Faces Goerges in Final

Kiki Bertens saved a match point on Sunday afternoon to beat American hope Madison Keys 6-4, 6-7(2), 7-6(5) in a nearly three-hour semifinal to book her place in the Volvo Car Open final.

It’s there that she’ll face Julia Goerges, the German, who took out Anastasija Sevastova 7-6(5), 6-3.

MORE: Updated Draws | Sunday Schedule 

Semifinals were being played on Sunday following a near-washout of play on Saturday.

In doubles, Katarina Srebotnik returns to the doubles final 10 years after winning it in 2008. She and partner Alla Kudryavtseva will face off against Andreja Klepac and Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez. That final will take place prior to the singles final.

Storms that moved through the area on Saturday largely impacted the schedule after the completion of just one doubles semifinal. Goerges and Sevastova were at 4-4 in the first set when rain ended the day’s play.

Sunday is the first time both the semifinals and finals are being played on one day in the tournament’s 18-year stay on Daniel Island.

There will be a new winner crowned come late afternoon as neither Goerges or Bertens has captured the trophy here prior. Goerges took out defending champion Daria Kasatkina in the quarterfinals Friday.

Bertens was playing against Keys and the crowd as the Charleston fans hollered their support for the Iowa native. But the Dutchwoman would save a match point at 5-4 down in the third set and then be the more aggressive of the two players in the third-set tiebreak.

Goerges used a tiebreak to win the first over Sevastova, then took the momentum from there, closing out the win for her fourth final in less than eight months.