Canada’s Bianca Andreescu made it into the final of the Libéma Open on Saturday following a 6-4 6-2 win over Hungary’s Dalma Galfi, and awaits the winner of the semi-final between 2-time defending champion Ekaterina Alexandrova and No 2 seed Liudmila Samsonova, both from Russia, after their match was suspended due to rain with the score standing at a set apiece, with play to resume on Sunday morning.
I think I played very good throughout the whole match. The conditions weren’t easy and she played really well at times. I saw that she was a bit injured, which obviously doesn’t help. So I just tried to stay focused until the end and I just never gave up. Bianca Andreescu
“It feels great,” Andreescu said after her match. “I believe that all the hard work that I’m putting in, and the perseverance, and never giving up is really paying off.”
Andreescu defeated 4-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka from Japan, 6-4 3-6 7-6(3), on Friday to advance to the Last 4 in what is just the 23-year-old’s second tournament back after being sidelined for 9 months with a back injury.
Despite her absence, she managed to reach the 3rd round at the French Open, before falling to eventual runner-up Jasmine Paolini 1-6 6-3 0-6.
In fact, since returning to action 3 weeks ago in Paris, Andreescu has won 6 of 7 matches, and, on Friday, she won 63.6% of her first-serve points against Galfi, and breaking on 4 of her 5 opportunities.
Sunday’s final serves as a chance at winning her first title since 2019, when she won her lone Grand Slam at the US Open.
After reaching the final, Andreescu stated that she is willing to take a celebratory plunge into the lake should she win the WTA 250 grass court event.
“I mean, if I can win, then I will so do whatever you guys want me to,” Andreescu said. “I just want to do well and then, the rest you guys can choose I will do it.”
Dalma Galfi came through qualifying to reach the semi-final of the Libéma Open where her run was ended by Bianca Andreescu
Libéma Open/Facebook
It took the former World No 4 an hour and 31 minutes to get past Galfi and secure her spot in the final.
Facing the Hungarian for the first time, Andreescu dominated her service games and was ruthlessly efficient on her own break chances, winning 75% of her second-serve points, while she was broken just once.
She broke Galfi’s serve twice in the opening set, before racing away with the second to seal the win.
Currently ranked No 228, Andreescu’s progress this week will boost her firmly back inside the Top 200.
After the match, Andreescu said that she played well, and was satisfied with her performance.
“I think I played very good throughout the whole match,” the Canadian said. “The conditions weren’t easy and she played really well at times.
“I saw that she was a bit injured, which obviously doesn’t help. So I just tried to stay focused until the end and I just never gave up,” she added.
2-time defending champion Ekaterina Alexandrova stood at set-all against Liudmila Samsonova when their match was suspended overnight due to rain
Libéma Open/Facebook
Samsonova and Alexandrova split sets in their semi-final before play was suspended for the remainder of the night, and they will resume their match at 10.30am on Sunday, with Samsonova leading 6-3, 6-7(1).
Alexandrova saved 2 match points to take the match to a decider.
