Teen Bianca Andreescu caps fairytale run with Indian Wells title
Teenager Bianca Andreescu ended her dream week in Indian Wells with victory over Angelique Kerber in the BNP Paribas Open final.
The 18-year-old held off three-time Grand Slam winner Kerber 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 to win her maiden WTA Tour title while she also became the first wildcard to win the title in Indian Wells.
She is also the youngest winner in California since Serena Williams in 1999.
A truly breathtaking performance!@Bandreescu_ is the 2019 @BNPPARIBASOPEN champion!
Defeats Angelique Kerber 6-4, 3-6, 6-4! pic.twitter.com/ke5gA9Xvup
— WTA (@WTA) March 17, 2019
The Canadian, who beat the likes of Garbine Muguruza and Elina Svitolina en route to the final, opened the match by breaking her more experienced opponent’s serve and then kept her composure to serve out the set.
Kerber, though, fought back with a single break of serve in game four of the second set as she levelled things.
The players traded breaks in games five and six of the decider and again in games eight and nine with Kerber saving two match points, but Andreescu broke in game 10 to earn the win.
“I did [visualise the victory]. Not only this morning but so many times,” she said afterwards
“It’s crazy to think that it became a reality today. After I spoke to my coach I just let it all out there.
“At that point I was really tired, so I went for my shots more, and that obviously worked. The next couple of games I did the same thing. And I just fought till the end, because physically I wasn’t feeling too well.”
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