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Bianca Andreescu got emotional while giving her runner-up speech after losing to second-seeded Liudmila Samsonova in three sets in the final of the 2024 Libema Open on Sunday (June 16). Coincidentally, the former US Open winner celebrated her birthday the same day.
Andreescu made her WTA Tour return at this year's French Open after a nine-month layoff due to a back injury. The Canadian reached the third round on the terre battue. She followed that up with a good result on the grass courts of 's-Hertogenbosch this week, winning four matches to reach her seventh career final.
Bianca Andreescu started the title contest on a good note, winning the first set 6-4. However, the 25-year-old's opponent, World No. 15 Liudmila Samsonova, soon wrested the championship match into her control. The Russian triumphed 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 to take her first title of the season at the 2024 Libema Open.
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During the trophy ceremony, the 2019 US Open winner was reduced to tears as she thanked her team and family. She also encouraged them to keep up the work that had brought good results for her over the past few weeks.
"Thank you to my team. JT, thank you for being there for me. Thank you to my parents. Everyone at home, sorry guys…" Bianca Andreescu said while crying. "My fitness trainer, mental coach, hypnotherapist... it works guys, trust me. Thank you to my friends. My entire family... in Romania as well."
Andreescu has now dropped four of her seven finals on the WTA Tour. That said, the Canadian can still take pride in her abilty to stand her ground during a match, with the three titles that she has won all having come at big tournaments (the 2019 BNP Paribas Open, the 2019 Cincinnati Open and the 2019 US Open).
Bianca Andreescu makes ranking surge with runner-up finish at Libema Open 2024
Before this week, Bianca Andreescu was 228 on the WTA rankings. However, the 25-year-old's efforts in 's-Hertogenbosch helped her jump 65 places up to No. 163 in the world.
The Canadian has suffered various injuries since her breakout season in 2019. However, she has maintained a positive outlook and is now looking to make her return to the top 100 this year. She can help her case greatly by going deep at Wimbledon, where she has yet to go past the third round.
Andreescu reached a career-high ranking of No. 4 following her maiden Major triumph at the US Open five years ago. Against all odds, she had defeated 23-time Major winner Serena Williams 6-3, 7-5 in the title clash at Flushing Meadows.
