Source: WTA Tennis
AUCKLAND, New Zealand – Bianca Andreescu isn’t done making her mark on the ASB Classic: the teenage qualifier knocked off her second consecutive big-name scalp to move into her maiden WTA Tour semifinal, coming from a set and a break down to defeat No.6 seed Venus Williams 6-7(1), 6-1, 6-3.
The 18-year-old had sent shockwaves through the tournament by eliminating top seed Caroline Wozniacki 6-4, 6-4 in the second round – and her multifaceted all-court talent was once again on display in backing that career-best win up.
Andreescu came out of the blocks looking to dominate – and over the course of the match managed to maintain a more aggressive game than Williams, one of the sport’s legendary power players. But despite striking 15 winners to the American’s two in the first set – including two clean return strikes – Andreescu struggled with her consistency and her serve, with 32 unforced errors and five double faults in the debit column.
Four service holds of superb quality were followed by four rather error-strewn breaks, before Williams snapped the pattern with some booming serves to move within a game of the set. Down 15-30, Andreescu came up with some brave backhands to stay alive, ultimately forcing a tiebreak – but once there, the young Canadian was unable to find any form, losing seven straight points, including five errors and a double fault, to fall behind by a set.
Continuing to hit wildly, Andreescu would immediately lose her serve to love at the start of…
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