Teenager Andreescu sends Williams packing

Saturday, 5 January 2019 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

AUCKLAND, AFP: Canadian teen Bianca Andreescu stunned Venus Williams in the WTA Auckland Classic quarter-finals to continue her giant-killing run on Friday, while defending champion Julia Goerges survived a match-point scare.

The 18-year-old Andreescu, ranked 152nd in the world, beat Williams, 20 years her senior and a seven-time Grand-Slam winner, 6-7 (1/7), 6-1, 6-3.

The tournament qualifier amazed even herself with the come-from-behind victory a day after she eliminated top seed and world number three Caroline Wozniacki.

“My goal was only to qualify and maybe get a couple of rounds in, but now I’ve beaten a couple of top players,” the surprised teen said.

“I believe that everything is possible and tonight, I think I did the impossible.”

Andreescu broke Williams eight times as she slugged it out from the baseline and mixed in smart drop shots which the 38-year-old American struggled to reach.

Williams, who had been a professional for six years before Andreescu was born, took the first set and broke Andreescu at the start of the second.

From there, the young Canadian reeled off 11 games in a row before a Williams rally briefly prolonged the deciding set.

Andreescu will meet Hsieh Su-Wei in the semi-finals after the third seed, who has not dropped a set all week, beat Spain’s Sara SorribesTormo 6-3, 6-2.