Jule Niemeier fought back from early deficits in both the first and third sets to defeat Julia Avdeeva 7-5, 2-6, 6-4 at the WTA Hamburg. Despite committing 18 double faults, the German broke serve five times and saved 7 of 13 break points to edge a match that saw nine service breaks in total.
Niemeier trailed 1-4 in the first set after Avdeeva broke in games 3 and 5, but roared back with breaks at 4-2 and 4-4, then sealed the set with a decisive break at 5-7. Avdeeva dominated the second set, breaking three times—twice in a row from 2-2—to level the match. The decider saw Avdeeva break first at 1-0, but Niemeier answered immediately at 3-3 and produced the decisive break at 4-6 to close out the win.
Avdeeva converted six of her 14 break chances and won 49 return points, one more than Niemeier, yet could not hold serve when it mattered most—she lost her serve six times, including three times in the final set alone.