In simply her second event again after an prolonged harm layoff, Bianca Andreescu is into her first closing since 2022 on the Libema Open in s-Hertogenbosch after beating qualifier Dalma Galfi in straight units on Saturday 6-4, 6-2.
The previous US Open champion has not lifted a trophy since profitable her first main title in September 2019. Her final closing additionally got here on grass two years in the past in Dangerous Homburg, when she misplaced to Caroline Garcia.
Taking part in her fourth match at a event for the primary time because the 2023 Miami Open, Andreescu was in cost from begin to end, profitable above 60 per cent of factors on each her first and second serves, whereas protecting Galfi underneath fixed stress, claiming 48 per cent of factors on the Hungarian’s serve.
Changing alternatives was the distinction within the match, as Andreescu transformed 4 of her 5 break level probabilities, whereas Galfi solely broke the Canadian’s serve as soon as on 4 alternatives.
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Andreescu bought off to a dream begin in her first semifinal since January 2023, breaking serve within the opening recreation. Nevertheless, the Hungarian rapidly reeled her again in to stage at 2-2. The break within the fourth recreation for Galfi was her solely one of many match.
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Probabilities had been few and much between within the opening set however when the door opened for Andreescu, she busted by. The one break probability for both lady after the preliminary change got here at 3-3,when the Canadian took benefit of a gap to interrupt for a 4-3 lead, which proved decisive.
Similar to the opening set, Andreescu opened the second with a break. This time, she didn’t let Galfi get again into it.
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After making it a double break for 4-1, the Canadian did face some stress from the Hungarian, who had a pair of break factors as Andreescu tried to consolidate the second break and one other when the previous US Open champion served for the match.
However Andreescu was as much as the problem, thwarting all the break probabilities and punching her ticket to the ultimate on her second match level.
Within the closing, Andreescu can have her palms full with both No. 2 seed Liudmila Samsonova or No. 3 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova. She did defeat four-time major champion Naomi Osaka within the quarter-finals on Friday. The Canadian has by no means received a title on grass in her profession.
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