Liudmila Samsonova dug deep to defeat Bianca Andreescu 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 to win the Libema Open on Sunday.
The 25-year-old proved stronger in the latter stages, firing 36 winners, and outlasting the former Grand Slam winner in 2 hours and 34 minutes.
Competing on her 24th birthday, it was Andreescu who initially came out stronger, imposing her variety and aggression in the opening set.
The Mississauga native scored the first break of the match, capitalizing on a pair of missed drop shots by Samsonova to move ahead 2-1.
On the quicker grass surface, it was all the Canadian needed as she cruised comfortably through her service games.
She wrapped up the opening set 6-4 in just 42 minutes, with seven winners and two aces.
Photo/Marleen Fouchier
Samsonova quickly shifted momentum in the second, raising her aggression and shot making.
In the second game, she struck a pair of clean baseline winners to convert her first break of serve in the match.
Andreescu would soon call for a medical timeout down 3-0 in the second set, leaving the court for a brief period.
The Canadian managed to return to the court energized and fresh, breaking back immediately and holding for 2-3.
However, the 25-year-old reclaimed the upper hand as she continued to punish the former US Open winner’s second serve with her powerful groundstrokes.
Samsonova closed out the second set 6-3.
The third opened with the two determined opponents’ exchanges holds of serve.
With tension rising, a fortunate net cord winner secured Samsonova an early break in the third set as she claimed a 2-1 lead on the scoreboard.
The former world number four would not be deterred; Andreescu rallied in the eighth game, sending Samsonova off balance with a heavy forehand crosscourt to break for 4-all.
She would then stave off three break point chances for her opponent to hold for 5-4.
However, the world number 15 continued to have all the answers.
In the business end of the match, Samsonova struck a series of deep returns to break for a 6-5 advantage.
The edge in the scoreboard would make the difference.
The 25-year-old struck the last of her 36 winners with a backhand passing shot on championship point to seal the victory.
It is the fifth title of Samsonova’s career and second on the grass court surface. It’s also her first trophy of the 2024 season.
It was the second match of the day for the competitor from Russia, who also closed out her semifinal against two-time defending champ Ekaterina Alexandrova earlier in the day, winning 6-3, 6-7, 6-1.
Meanwhile, it’s Andreescu’s sixth career WTA final and first since June of 2022.
The 24-year-old is now 6-2 overall in 2024.
Dabrowski and Routliffe win in Nottingham
Gaby Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe returned to their winning ways, fighting past Britain’s Harriet Dart and Diane Parry of France 5-7, 6-3, 11-9 to win the Rothesay Open in Nottingham on Sunday.
It’s the third career title from the doubles pairing, who captured the U.S. Open last summer.
The duo, seeded first at the tournament, secured two match wins on the Sunday, also beating American Ashlyn Krueger and Zhang Shuai of China 6-0, 6-4 in the semifinals.
The finals match was much more closely contested.
Dart and Parry earned the first break of serve midway through the opening set to go ahead 4-2, before Routliffe and Dabrowski were able to level the score.
The Brit and Frenchwoman eventually nabbed the opener in the latter stages with another break of serve to earn the first, 7-5.
The Canadian and Kiwi pairing responded in the second set as the Ottawa native Dabrowski imposed her athletic net game while Routliffe used her good hands and consistency.
The top seeds needed just one break of serve to maintain control, capturing the second 6-3.
That would send the championship match into a compelling super tiebreak filled with twists and turns.
Last year’s US Open champions raced out to an early 4-1 lead, before Parry and Dart promptly rallied to tie the score at 5-all.
Dabrowski and Routliffe then saw an 8-6 advantage disappear, before saving one championship point to tie the score at 9-all.
They’d convert on their first championship point, capping their first title of 2024.
The doubles team, who had not played an event together since the Miami Open in March, now also have their first career title together on the grass court surface.
Routliffe will move to a career high doubles ranking of three on Monday, while Dabrowski moves one ranking spot up to sixth overall.
