ZCZC
BSP-02
TENNIS-WTA-USA
Andreescu seeks breakthrough win at Indian Wells
INDIAN WELLS, United States, March 17, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Canadian teenager
Bianca Andreescu will try to follow in footsteps of world number one Naomi
Osaka on 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 number one Garbine Muguruza in the quarter-finals.
In Kerber she’ll be facing another former world number one, but the German
hasn’t won a title since claiming her third Grand Slam crown at Wimbledon
last year.
She was shocked by unseeded American Danielle Collins in the round of 16 at
the Australian Open, but as she’s settled into a routine with a new coach
Kerber reached the semi-finals in Doha in February.
“I have learned a lot, especially in the last few tournaments after
Australia,” Kerber said, explaining that she’d made a conscious effort to
narrow her focus to alleviate on-court pressure.
“That was actually the goal here, to play every single day the best I can
play.
“It works so far,” added Kerber, but she knows in Andreescu she faces a
talented player eager to make a name for herself.
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.”
BSS/AFP/MSY/0837 hrs