Liudmila Samsonova continues her dream week in Montreal. The Russian, 18th in the world, in three days offered world number 2 Aryna Sabalenka (7-6 (2), 4-6, 6-3) in the round of 16 and world number 4 Elena Rybakina (1-6 , 6-1, 6-2) Sunday in the semi-finals. The Kazakh, favorite after the eliminations of the Belarusian and Iga Swiatek, did not hold her rank. Samsonova (24) will try to win the most prestigious trophy of her career this Sunday evening (11:30 p.m. French time) against the American Jessica Pegula (3rd).
In a meeting postponed from Saturday to Sunday due to rain and disrupted by the wind, Rybakina started perfectly by making a first break at 2-1, followed by a second at 4-1 to easily win the first set. . The machine seized up at the start of the second set, where it only served 39% of first serves (against 58% in the first).
Broken very quickly by committing three double faults, she definitely lost her footing after having yet unbroken. She won during this set only 3 points behind her second ball. Put in difficulty by the very offensive tennis and full of dazzling Samsonova, the Kazakh, overwhelmed in the exchange, conceded six games in a row, which allowed the Russian to return to a set everywhere and break entry. third set.
She stole a fifth and last time the opponent’s face-off and concluded on her first opportunity with a winning service. Samsonova could well become Rybakina’s pet peeve since it is the third time, after Montreal in 2021 and Tokyo in 2022, that the Russian has won their confrontations. Here she is qualified for her first final in the WTA 1000.
