Puig rides high in Luxembourg ahead of visit to Puerto Rico

Monica Puig is enjoying a return to form in Luxembourg. The Puerto Rican upset Angelique Kerber in the first round, before beating Alison Van Uytvanck and Naomi Broady to advance to her first semifinal since Doha in February.

The last time the world No. 69-ranked Puig beat Kerber was in the final of Rio, where she made history for becoming the first Puerto Rican to win an Olympic gold medal.

Puig has been in Asia for many long weeks, dealing with the destruction of her home island from afar while raising over $130,000 for Hurricane Maria relief efforts.

The 24-year-old has received support from fellow players like Nick Kyrgios and Maria Sharapova. The Russian will even join Puig when she returns to Puerto Rico next week to help with relief efforts.

Sharapova visited Puerto Rico last December to play against Puig in an exhibition in one of the few on-court appearances during her 15-month suspension.