Canadian Open: Samsonova ousts a misfiring Rybakina to reach her maiden 1000-level final

Liudmila Samsonova recovered from losing a one-sided opening set to cruise past a faltering Elena Rybakina 1-6, 6-1, 6-2 and reach her maiden WTA 1000-level final.

It was a somewhat subdued affair at times, in contrast to some of the epic matches that took place earlier in the week, with the match perhaps suffering from a day’s delay due to rain.

Nevertheless, it was an intriguing encounter to kick off an unusual finals day in Montreal – with the Canadian crowd enjoying two matches for the price of one.

Rybakina takes a one-sided first set

The match went on serve until the fourth game, when Rybakina made the first move by breaking Samsonova’s serve to move 3-1 up. From that point on in the first set, the Kazakh didn’t look back, sprinting to a 6-1 win by breaking her Russian opponent again and holding her remaining service games.

Samsonova had never beaten a top 10 player from a set down before. But the 15th seed showed the quality that she possesses, overturning the deficit by taking full advantage of a drop in form from her opponent.

There were ominous signs for the Russian at the start of the second set as she opened with a double fault to invite early pressure onto herself.

However, Samsonova dup deep to earn what turned out to be a crucial hold after a lengthy opening service game.

Momentum shifts as Samsonova seizes upon Rybakina’s faltering serve

Rybakina’s flawless serving suddenly evaporated as the Kazakh threw in three consecutive double-faults to hand her Russian opponent a precious break.

Samsonova could not initially push home the advantage as some vicious returning by Rybakina brought the second set back on serve.

However, the Russian broke straight back again for the third straight exchange of serve, as errors from both players began to stack up.

Simply unplayable in the last two sets 👏@LiudaSamsonova | #NBO23 pic.twitter.com/kHRzsiE7uw

— Omnium Banque Nationale (@OBNmontreal) August 13, 2023

From there, Samsonova dialled in to take full advantage of a serious dip in Rybakina’s usually rock-solid serve. She broke again to win the set 6-1 in a mirror image of the first, saving two break points in the seventh game to take the match into a decider.

That trend continued at the start of the third, as Samsonova broke Rybakina again in the opening game of the decider. The Kazakh stayed in touch with a couple of service holds until the seventh game when the Russian made the decisive move by breaking for a second time to move 5-2 up with some brilliant returning.

In one of the biggest service games she has played Samsonova showed no signs of nerves, serving out the most significant win of her career to love and earning a thoroughly deserved place in the National Bank Open final.

Difficult week comes to an end for Rybakina as Samsonova earns biggest win of her career

For Rybakina, the toll of a difficult week ultimately seemed to catch up with her. Finishing her quarter-final with Daria Kasatkina at 02:55 in the morning – and waiting all day for a last four match that was pushed back to Sunday – showed its impact as the big-serving Kazakh faded rapidly and uncharacteristically in those last two stanzas.

Samsonova, meanwhile, has made it all the way to the final after a week in which she rediscovered the wonderful form she is capable of.

“At the beginning of the year I said it would be a dream if I could play a final or even one day win a Masters,” the world No 18 said during her on-court interview.

“I think it is my destiny,” Samsonova added when asked about playing two matches in a day.

Samsonova will now play Jessica Pegula for the title later on Sunday in Montreal – a match that will be the biggest of her career so far.

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