Puerto Vallarta, Mexico – After a stunning upset over Spain’s Sara Sorribes last Thursday, Britain’s Heather Watson continued her impressive run at the Puerto Vallarta Open 2025 WTA 125. On Friday, the seasoned competitor claimed her third consecutive win by dispatching Canada’s Marina Stakusic in just 1 hour and 16 minutes, earning her the title of the competition’s first semifinalist.
Watson’s match against Stakusic, which concluded with straight-set victories of 6-3 and 6-1, showcased her resilience and tactical prowess. Although Stakusic started the first set strongly, surging to a 0-3 lead, Watson quickly countered by capitalizing on several inefficient serves from her opponent. The British player broke the momentum, steadily overturning the early deficit and taking control of the match.
In the decisive second set, Watson’s lethal serves played a pivotal role. With a 70.6% first serve efficiency and winning an impressive 91.7% of her points on those serves, she demonstrated why she remains a formidable force on the court.
This latest victory was especially notable given Watson’s earlier grueling encounter with Sorribes—a match that lasted 2 hours and 41 minutes and tested her endurance. Yet, despite the fatigue from that demanding duel, Watson showed no mercy in her performance against Stakusic.
Adding an extra twist to the tournament narrative, Stakusic had previously advanced to the Quarterfinals by walkover after her rival, Elisabetta Cocciaretto, was forced to withdraw due to injury. However, Watson’s commanding display ensured that the British star would now be the one to set the pace in the semifinals.
As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on Watson to see if she can maintain her high level of play and perhaps even go on to claim the title at Puerto Vallarta.
