BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) Unseeded Danka Kovinic of Montenegro reached the Bucharest Open quarterfinals for a second straight year when she upset fourth-seed Julia Goerges of Germany 6-4, 6-7 (8), 6-2 on Thursday.
Kovinic, the first Montenegrin woman to make a WTA quarterfinal two years ago in Budapest, made the last eight for the third time this year in a match of long rallies for nearly three hours.
To reach her first semi, she will have to go past seventh-seeded Anna Karolina Schmiedlova of Slovakia, who overpowered Denisa Allertova of the Czech Republic 6-1, 6-2.
Second-seeded Roberta Vinci lost in a second straight tournament to Aleksandra Krunic of Serbia, 6-1, 6-1. Krunic also prevailed against the Italian in the Wimbledon first round.
Also, Andreea Mitu beat wild card Sorana Cirstea 5-7, 6-2, 6-4, in a match between two locals featuring 16 service breaks.
Local favorite Monica Niculescu, the third seed, defeated Teliana Pereira of Brazil 6-2, 6-3, saving all nine break points she faced, and Anna Tatishvili of the United States advanced when fifth-seeded Alexandra Dulgheru of Romania retired while trailing 5-2.