Miami (AFP)
Bianca Andreescu, 8th in the world, defeated 7-6 (9/7), 3-6, 7-6 (7/4) of Greece's Maria Sakkari, 25th in the world, qualified for the final of the WTA tournament on Thursday 1000 from Miami where she will try to dethrone Australian world No. 1 Ashleigh Barty.
It's a fierce and exhausting battle, 24 hours after the already tough fight against Spain's Sara Sorribes, which the 20-year-old Canadian won against the one who had created a sensation in the previous round by sweeping the Japanese, N .2 world, Naomi Osaka.
Each had the opportunity to win the first set.
Sakkari was the first to break, before Andreescu faced the same.
In the tie-break, the Greek, 25th in the world, obtained a set point, but it was her rival who converted hers three points later.
In the second set, the Canadian broke again to lead 3-2 serve to follow.
But Sakkari did not let go, except his forehands suddenly became very powerful and very precise to line up four games in a row.
The last set was stifling with suspense, the Canadian having twice succeeded in unbreaking the Greek who thought she had done the hardest part.
Everything was decided once again in the tie-break where Andreescu definitely took the upper hand with his third match point after 2h42.
After a white year 2020, during which she did not leave Canada, first injured in the left knee and then prevented by the Covid-19 pandemic, Andreescu, winner of the US Open in 2019, made a timid return on the courts in February, outing in the second round of the Australian Open.
Her career in Miami shows that she is in the process of finding her best level.
But to glean a 4th title on the circuit, she will have a lot to do on Saturday against Barty, an opponent she will meet for the first time and who is also seriously gaining momentum.
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