The WTA 250 event in Hertogenbosch saw its quarterfinal matches on June 14th, with a highly anticipated “Grand Slam champion clash.” Former US Open winner Bianca Andreescu defeated former world number one Naomi Osaka 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(3) to secure her place in the women’s singles semifinals, notching up the most significant victory since her return.
Bianca Andreescu
Absent from the tour for nine months, the 23-year-old Andreescu made her comeback at this month’s French Open, defeating Spain’s Tomo and 23rd seed Karinskaia before falling to eventual finalist Paliy in the third round. Transitioning to grass, Andreescu has now won three consecutive matches this week, eliminating qualifier Vida, Chinese player Yuan Ye, and four-time Grand Slam champion Osaka. Advancing to the semifinals in just her second tournament back, she showcases promising prospects for her comeback.
“This is why we play tennis,” Andreescu said after the match. “Beating a player like (Osaka), at least for me, really shows where I’m at right now. But I’m not getting ahead of myself because every day is a new day. I just want to enjoy the moment and gain confidence from it.”
Naomi Osaka
This was the first meeting between Andreescu and Osaka in five years. After splitting the opening two sets, Andreescu led 5-2 in the deciding set before Osaka fought back to level the score. In the subsequent tiebreak, with Osaka leading 3-2, unforced errors allowed Andreescu to take five straight points and clinch the win 7-3.
“At 5-2, I got a little bit loose on my serve,” Andreescu admitted. “I tried to tell myself to go for it, but another voice in my head kept telling me to calm down, which made me hesitate. It was a very close match, maybe just two points decided it all.”
“Throughout, I never gave up. I ran a lot today, definitely more than my opponent, because I really wanted to win this match, and I think that was the key.”
Andreescu defeating Serena Williams to win the 2019 US Open
Their first encounter took place at the 2019 China Open, where Osaka rallied from a set down to end Andreescu’s 17-match winning streak, a match that was later named the best of the 2019 WTA season. Five years ago, both players were at the peak of their careers. Osaka captured her first Australian Open title in 2019, completing back-to-back Grand Slam victories. Andreescu, on the other hand, emerged as a rising star, winning Indian Wells in March and then defeating Serena Williams in the US Open final to claim her maiden major title, reaching a career-high ranking of No. 4. Since then, both have faced challenges and adversity, now reemerging to challenge for top honors once again.
Andreescu will face qualifier Garaffi in the semifinals. Second seed Samsonova has already advanced to the semis in the lower half of the draw, although her opponent is yet to be determined due to a rain delay in the quarterfinal match between Alexandrova and Montgomery. Should Andreescu triumph in the tournament, it would be her first title since the 2019 US Open.
(Written and edited by Fei Wang)