Canadian Bianca Andreescu’s comeback from a back injury continued Saturday with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Hungarian qualifier Dalma Galfi in the semifinals of the Libema Open in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands.
The 2019 U.S. Open champion, Andreescu was sidelined nine months with the injury before playing in the French Open last month. Ranked No. 228, she has won six of seven matches, losing only to Jasmine Paolini, a finalist at Roland Garros.
Andreescu converted 4 of 5 on break points while saving 3 of 4 against Galfi. Andreescu will face either second-seeded Liudmila Samsonova or two-time defending champion and third-seeded Ekaterina Alexandrova in the final.
Samsonova won the first set 6-3, then Alexandrova saved two match points to win the second set 7-6 (1) before their match was suspended by darkness. The Russians will continue the match Sunday before the final.
Rothesay Open
Sixth-seeded Karolina Pliskova emerged from a three-set battle with top seed Ons Jabeur, 7-6 (8), 6-7 (3), 7-5 in the quarterfinals in Nottingham, England.
Pliskova of the Czech Republic saved 6 of 7 break-point opportunities while converting 2 of 4 chances. That helped offset Tunisia’s Jabeur hitting more aces (11-7) while Pliskova recorded more double faults (7-4). Their match, which lasted two hours and 39 minutes, was played after a rain delay.
An All-Great Britain semifinal match between Emma Raducanu and third seed and defending champion Katie Boulter was suspended by darkness after Raducanu took the first set 7-6 (13).
Earlier Saturday in the quarterfinals, Raducanu won in a walkover after fellow countrywoman Francesca Jones withdrew because of a shoulder injury.
Pliskova’s semifinal match was postponed against France’s Diane Parry — who earlier completed a 6-3, 7-6 (4) quarterfinal victory over Australia’s Kimberly Birrell. The two semifinals are slated for Sunday, with the final to follow.
