The defending champion, Katie Boulter, guaranteed there will be an all-British final at the Rothesay Open in Nottingham again by defeating Magdalena Frech in a rain-hit contest.
The British No 1, who won her first WTA Tour title in her home event 12 months ago, defeated her Polish opponent 6-2, 6-4 to reach the semi-finals. There she will take on either Emma Raducanu or Francesca Jones, who needed only four points to complete a 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 victory over the American Ashlyn Krueger.
Jones had to wait nearly 24 hours to get back on court after rain arrived while she was serving for the match on Thursday, with further inclement weather delaying the start of play on Friday. More rain then forced a lengthy stoppage with the 27-year-old Boulter leading Frech 4-2, but the world No 30 finished off the first set before recovering from a break down in the second.
“The first set I thought there was some really good tennis from me, some of the best I’ve played,” said Boulter. “I’m slowly building some momentum. I’m just really happy to get through today. I can see a rain cloud coming so I just wanted to finish it off as quickly as possible. I can’t do any more rain delays.
“It’s absolutely awesome to see a lot of Brits doing really well. Last year was myself and Jodie [Burrage] in the final. I played Hev [Heather Watson] in the semis, Harriet [Dart] in the quarters, so I think we’re in a really good place.”
Earlier, Jones punched the air in delight after saving a break point and then winning three points in a row to book a place in her second WTA Tour quarter-final and first on home soil. The 23-year-old said: “I think that was a more excruciating wait than when Man United were 2-1 up against Man City at the end of the FA Cup final.
“Definitely testing my worst attribute, which is my patience. I’ve heard a lot of jokes. Ons [Jabeur] was telling me to serve two aces, but I put first serves in so we’ll take it.” Jones was due to take on Raducanu later on Friday, with the pair having become close friends since being part of the same Billie Jean King Cup team in April.
Meanwhile in Stuttgart Jack Draper celebrated his elevation to British No 1 by beating the defending champion, Frances Tiafoe, to reach the semi-finals of the Boss Open.
Draper’s run in Germany coupled with Cameron Norrie’s unexpected defeat by Jack Pinnington Jones in Nottingham means the 22-year-old will top the domestic standings for the first time on Monday. He will also hit a career high in the low 30s, which could be enough to earn him a seeding at Wimbledon, after battling to a 5-7, 6-4, 7-6 (1) victory over the American Tiafoe. Draper will next face Tiafoe’s compatriot Brandon Nakashima in his seventh ATP Tour semi-final.
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The manner of victory was particularly satisfying for Draper, who lost matches at three successive tournaments on deciding tiebreaks this season but played a superb one this time.
“I’m incredibly happy,” he said. “My last three [deciding] tiebreaks, I lost them all, so to come through today was really amazing and I’m really proud of my efforts.”