Photo : Libema Open
In just her second tournament back after an extended injury layoff, Bianca Andreescu is into her first final since 2022 at the Libema Open in s-Hertogenbosch after beating qualifier Dalma Galfi in straight sets on Saturday 6-4, 6-2.
The former US Open champion has not lifted a trophy since winning her first major title in September 2019. Her last final also came on grass two years ago in Bad Homburg, when she lost to Caroline Garcia.
Playing her fourth match at a tournament for the first time since the 2023 Miami Open, Andreescu was in charge from start to finish, winning above 60 per cent of points on both her first and second serves, while keeping Galfi under constant pressure, claiming 48 per cent of points on the Hungarian’s serve.
Converting opportunities was the difference in the match, as Andreescu converted four of her five break point chances, while Galfi only broke the Canadian’s serve once on four opportunities.
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Andreescu got off to a dream start in her first semifinal since January 2023, breaking serve in the opening game. However, the Hungarian quickly reeled her back in to level at 2-2. The break in the fourth game for Galfi was her only one of the match.
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Chances were few and far between in the opening set but when the door opened for Andreescu, she busted through. The only break chance for either woman after the initial exchange came at 3-3,when the Canadian took advantage of an opening to break for a 4-3 lead, which proved decisive.
Just like the opening set, Andreescu opened the second with a break. This time, she did not let Galfi get back into it.
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After making it a double break for 4-1, the Canadian did face some pressure from the Hungarian, who had a pair of break points as Andreescu tried to consolidate the second break and another when the former US Open champion served for the match.
But Andreescu was up to the challenge, thwarting all of the break chances and punching her ticket to the final on her second match point.
In the final, Andreescu will have her hands full with either No. 2 seed Liudmila Samsonova or No. 3 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova. She did defeat four-time major champion Naomi Osaka in the quarter-finals on Friday. The Canadian has never won a title on grass in her career.
