Ekaterina Alexandrova has almost become a fixture at the Upper Austria Ladies Linz - in the most positive sense of the word! The 2018 finalist, who is at home in Prague, is aiming for her fourth semi-final on the Danube today. And that's not just because of the feel-good atmosphere in Upper Austria, which she always enjoys, but also because of the special conditions at the Design Centre: "Apart from the great atmosphere, the balls and the conditions also suit me very well. It's not super fast, but not super slow either. I also prefer playing indoors. Maybe that's because I generally train a lot indoors," said Alexandrova ahead of her quarter-final against her opponent Anastasia Potapova, who is seven years younger and also feels almost at home in Linz. She has built up a special relationship with the provincial capital thanks to her tournament victory last year. You can tell that this year too. However, after a commanding opening victory, she needed a real show of strength yesterday to turn her round of 16 match against Elisabetta Cocciaretto, who had already reached the semi-finals in the doubles competition. She even fended off two match points in a dramatic tie-break in the second set. It was Potapova's seventh win in a row in Linz - she is still unbeaten at the Design Centre!

After her victory, she first and foremost paid tribute to her opponent "I'm speechless. It was an incredible match! If Elisabetta keeps playing like this, we'll see her in the final of the Australian Open next year. I'm glad I was able to win the match today."   
But it remains to be seen how much energy this success has taken out of her. Alexandrova will go into the duel against her compatriot rested and refreshed.

We promise, dear tennis fans: Today is going to be really dramatic! The Upper Austria Ladies Linz is entering the home straight!