Tennis

Bianca Andreescu, the former world No. 4, has stormed into her first final of the year at the Libema Open in the Netherlands, marking a remarkable comeback after a nearly 10-month absence due to a back injury.In her second tournament since returning to action, Andreescu showcased her resilience and determination, defeating Hungarian qualifier Dalma Galfi 6-4, 6-2 on Saturday. The victory extends her impressive record to 6-1 on the season, despite her current ranking of No. 228."It feels great," Andreescu said after the match. "All the hard work and perseverance is paying off. I played very well throughout the match, even though the conditions weren't easy."Andreescu's victory sets up a tantalizing final, where she will face either No. 3 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova or No. 2 seed Liudmila Samsonova. The rain-affected schedule has disrupted the tournament, forcing the suspension of their match due to darkness.Alexandrova, the two-time defending champion, advanced to the semifinals with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over American qualifier Robin Montgomery. Samsonova, meanwhile, was leading 6-3, 6-7 (1) when play was halted.Andreescu's resurgence is a testament to her unwavering spirit and the belief she has in her abilities. The Canadian will be aiming to capture her first WTA title since 2019, when she triumphed at the US Open for her lone Grand Slam trophy.The Libema Open final promises to be a thrilling encounter, with Andreescu looking to continue her impressive run and add another chapter to her remarkable comeback story.

Bianca Andreescu and Naomi Osaka, two former Grand Slam champions, engaged in a thrilling three-set battle at the Libema Open, with Andreescu ultimately emerging victorious.Andreescu, playing in only her second tournament of 2024 after a nine-month absence due to a back injury, displayed remarkable resilience against a resurgent Osaka. The match, which lasted two hours and 15 minutes, was a testament to the high quality of tennis both players possess.The first set was a closely contested affair, with Andreescu securing the lone break point off a stunning volley. Osaka, however, roared back in the second set, taking a commanding 5-0 lead and forcing a decider.The third set was a rollercoaster of emotions, with both players saving break points and trading blows. Andreescu broke first, but Osaka responded with a series of powerful forehand winners to level the contest.In the deciding tiebreaker, Andreescu's determination shone through. She converted a match point when an Osaka forehand clipped the netcord and dropped back onto her side.Andreescu's victory marks a significant milestone in her comeback from injury. She will now face Hungarian qualifier Dalma Galfi in the semifinals.

When Naomi Osaka and Bianca Andreescu first faced off in the quarterfinals of the 2019 China Open, it seemed like the beginning of a fierce rivalry between two rising stars. However, injuries and mental health struggles have hindered both players' careers since then.Now, five years later, they will meet again in the quarterfinals of the WTA 250 Libema Open on grass courts in the Netherlands. Both players received wild cards into the tournament and have cruised through their first two matches.Andreescu, who turns 24 on June 16, is playing in just her second tournament since returning from a nine-month injury layoff. She reached the third round at Roland Garros, while Osaka has rebounded from a disappointing second-round loss to Iga Swiatek in Paris.In their previous encounter, Osaka snapped Andreescu's 17-match winning streak in a three-set thriller. Both players have since been open about their mental health struggles and have taken time off from tennis to address them.Despite their setbacks, both Andreescu and Osaka remain promising players with the potential to reach the top of the game. Their quarterfinal match at the Libema Open will be a reminder of what might have been and a glimpse of what's still possible for two players who have faced adversity with resilience and determination.The winner of the match will advance to the semifinals, a stage neither player has reached on grass before.

Jessica Pegula and Naomi Osaka made triumphant returns to the tennis court on Tuesday at the Libema Open in 's-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands.Pegula, the top seed, cruised past qualifier Aliaksandra Sasnovich 6-2, 6-2 in her first match since suffering a rib injury that sidelined her for the entire European clay season. The American dominated the match, converting five of her seven break points and dropping serve only once."I've been healthy for a few weeks now," Pegula said. "I don't think much has really changed. Iga dominated the clay season, what else is new? Now we go into grass and I'm sure the grass-court players will do well."Pegula's victory marks her first on grass since reaching the quarterfinals of Wimbledon last year. She is hoping to build on that success and gain confidence ahead of the upcoming Grand Slam.Osaka, a four-time major winner, also impressed in her first grass-court match since 2019 Wimbledon. The Japanese star defeated fourth-seeded Elise Mertens 6-2, 6-4 in 69 minutes. Osaka powered past the Belgian with 21 winners and converted all three of her break point chances."I'm going to play two extra weeks on grass now," Osaka said. "Hopefully I can do well and make up some points or at least gain confidence and matches there and then be ready to go for the rest of the year."Osaka is seeking her first grass-court trophy. Prior to Tuesday, her last win on the surface came in June 2019 in Birmingham. All of her 11 previous tour-level final appearances have been on hard courts.The Libema Open is a WTA 250 tournament that serves as a warm-up event for Wimbledon. The tournament features a strong field of players, including former world No. 1 Simona Halep and two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova.