Monica Puig continues to thrive on the grass courts with the pressure of qualifying for the Olympic Games no longer playing on her mind.
The 22-year-old booked her place in the Puerto Rican squad for Rio by reaching the Roland Garros third round and has since flourished on the green turf in England.
An absorbing three-hour epic against Kristina Mladenovic earned her a semi-final place at the Aegon International Eastbourne to replicate her success in Nottingham earlier this month.
“I'm just trying to enjoy every moment on the court. Now with the pressure of the Olympics off, it takes a little bit of the stress off my shoulders because it was a goal that I really wanted to accomplish for this year so I could check one off my list,” revealed Puig, who also managed to navigate through qualifying in Eastbourne.
“There is a long way to go and I have a lot more goals that I want to accomplish, so those are my new target points and focus.
Wimbledon is the last tournament before kind of a half-season break, so I want to finish off with a high
“You know, I'm just really happy with the way I have been progressing since the year started and where I am now. Wimbledon is the last tournament before kind of a half-season break, so I want to finish off with a high.”
Four consecutive breaks punctuated the first set with both players unleashing ferocious power in a series of enthralling all-court rallies.
Locked level, a tie-break was required to separate the in-form duo. Puig staved off set point with a canny serve out wide before clinching the 70-minute opener with a clattering cross court forehand winner 7-6(6).
Mladenovic, who triumphed in her three previous Eastbourne matches without dropping a set, utilised the drop shot with aplomb to steal an early lead for 3-1, an advantage the world No.33 maintained to extend the contest 6-4.
“I think just staying mentally tough, because we were both putting so much pressure on each other's serves,” said Puig, who fended off 18 out of 23 break points in an astonishing match.
“So it was basically about me staying focused and doing what I had to do, which is be as aggressive as I could and just keep my head together.”
Driven on by that focus, Puig broke immediately with some toe-tapping returns and built a 3-1 lead courtesy of a brace of blistering forehand winners down the line.
“A win like this and how I have been doing this season, everybody is super, super happy,” said the Puerto Rican after wrapping up the gruelling encounter 6-3 as she continues to be buoyed by support from home.
“It's a big thing, especially because sport is so big in Puerto Rico. You know, all of the people from Puerto Rico take a lot of pride in their athletes and in people who represent their country with dignity and who are proud to represent their country.”
The world No.43 will next face top seed Agnieszka Radwanska or former Australian Open finalist Dominika Cibulkova in the semi-finals with their contest halted by rain with the Pole leading 6-4, 2-0.
