Indian Wells: Canadian teenager Bianca Andreescu will try to follow in footsteps of world No.1 Naomi Osaka Sunday and cap a magical run at Indian Wells with a first WTA title.
Andreescu grabbed a slice of history when she became the first wild card to reach the women’s final in the California desert with her 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 victory over sixth-ranked Ukrainian Elina Svitolina.
It was her ninth win over a top-50 player this year and an astonishing 27th match win across all levels for a player who came through qualifying to reach her first WTA final at Auckland in January.
“It’s incredible,” beamed Andreescu, who recovered from 3-1 down in the third set to beat Irina-Camelia Begu in the first round then roared past Dominika Cibulkova and Stefanie Voegele in the second and third rounds with the loss of just seven games.
She then toppled 18th-seeded Wang Qiang before an impressive 6-0, 6-1 rout of former world No.1 Garbine Muguruza in the quarterfinals.
In Angelique Kerber she’ll be facing another former world No.1, but the German hasn’t won a title since claiming her third Grand Slam crown at Wimbledon last year.
Reminded that Japan’s Osaka had never won a tournament when she swept to the title last year, Andreescu was asked if she thought she was primed for a similar breakthrough.
“I think so,” the composed Canadian said. “I’m in the final — it’s definitely a starting point.”
AFP