In 2019, both Barty and Andreescu achieved major breakthroughs (literally), winning their first Slam titles, as well as several other big tournaments. But both would subsequently miss around a year of action, making their returns just two months ago. Now they’re back to playing their best tennis, and vying for another big title in their first career meeting. Along with Naomi Osaka, Ash and Bianca have separated themselves from the rest of the tour, and are creating an elite aura around themselves.
Barty was the champion of this tournament two years ago, her first WTA Premier Mandatory title (now a “WTA 1000” event). Just two months later, she claimed her first Major at Roland Garros. And she ended 2019 as the world No.1, after also winning the WTA Finals. Ash only played 14 matches in 2020, choosing not to leave Australia due to the pandemic. Yet despite that lack of match play, she’s gone 13-2 in 2021, and has advanced to the final in her first tournament outside Australia in over a year. Barty is looking to defend a title for the first time in her career.
Just two weeks before Barty prevailed in the 2019 Miami event, Andreescu was the surprise winner in Indian Wells. She would go on to only play one match on clay that season due to injury, but immediately started winning again once returning to North America. Bianca prevailed at the Rogers Cup in her home country of Canada, and proceeded to win her first Slam at the US Open. But injuries and pandemic restrictions prevented Andreescu from playing at all in 2020. After nearly 16 months, she returned to action at February’s Australian Open. And now in just her third tournament, she’s reached the championship match, and is looking to collect the only big North American title she’s yet to win.
Ash Barty (1) vs. Bianca Andreescu (8) – 1:00pm local time
Each player has won five matches to reach this final, though Andreescu has spent nearly three more hours on court. Her semifinal against Maria Sakkari lasted almost twice as long as Barty’s semi, and concluded around 1:30am local time. Bianca has now played four consecutive three-setters, while Ash has advanced a bit more easily after saving a match point to escape her opening round. Andreescu has now secured 20 of her last 23 deciding sets, which reveals her ability to elevate her game under pressure. But Barty’s survival skills are almost as impressive, as she’s taken 22 of her last 27 deciding sets.
Both possess a wide array of shots, which should make for some creative and engaging rallies. Without any previous encounters between the two to dissect, it’s hard to know what the deciding factors will be on Saturday. But what we’ve seen out of Andreescu this fortnight is reminiscent of her 2019 form, when at one stretch she prevailed in 27 consecutive completed matches (not counting retirements or walkovers). When Bianca is healthy and playing this well, she can seem unstoppable. And unlike Barty, she will not have the added burden of trying to defend her title. Andreescu is 3-0 in North American finals, and I suspect she’ll extend that record to 4-0 on Saturday.
Also on Saturday, the Men’s Doubles Championship (Not before 3:30pm):
Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic (2) vs. Dan Evans and Neal Skupski – Mektic and Pavic are already going for their fourth title this year, and are 24-3 since forming this new partnership. Skupski claimed a doubles title just two weeks ago in Acapulco with his brother Ken.
Saturday’s full Order of Play is here.
