Andreescu knocks Venus out of Auckland

Day Five of the ASB Classic in Auckland gave us the semi finalists of the tournament.

AUCKLAND 

WTA quarter finals:

Viktoria Kuzmova defeated wildcard Amanda Anisimova 6-3 2-6 6-4

Julia Goerges (2) defeated Eugenie Bouchard 3-6 6-3 7-6(6), and will play Viktoria Kuzmova in the semis

Qualifier Bianca Andreescu v Venus Williams (6)

The 18 year old Canadian was on a high after dispatching top seed Caroline Wozniacki in the second round, and she continued her fine form in the opening set against Venus Williams.  

Both players broke serve twice in an even encounter, where they would have preferred a higher first serve percentage.

Irrespective, a tie break was an appropriate resolution to the impasse.

The experience of Williams played out and the American easily won the tie break for the loss of just one point, and the set 7-6(1).

Set two was vastly different, with Andreescu smashing the Williams serve, winning 73% of points when Venus put a ball in play.

Andreescu was broken in the opening game, but it mattered little as she rattled off six straight games to level the match 6-7(1) 6-1.

The decider began with an Andreescu forehand winner.  Williams found herself down 15-40 and in trouble.  A failed Canadian drop shot saved one break point, but Venus hit the net on the second to lose a seventh successive game.  1-0 Andreescu.

The consolidation came and a 2-0 advantage.

A double fault contributed by Venus led to another break point and Bianca won through for 3-0.

Two Williams forehands had Andreescu trailing 0-30, but the Canadian retrieved the situation to win her 10th game on the trot.

Two Andreescu forehand winners highlighted yet another break of the Williams serve and at 5-0, Bianca would serve for a semi final spot.

Ever the competitor, Venus won the next three games, which included breaking Andreescu twice as she served for the match.

At 3-5, though, Venus was on the end of a stunning forehand return, the 39th winner for Andreescu, which set up three match points.

The first was saved but not the second, and Bianca Andreescu defeated Venus Williams 6-7(1) 6-1 6-3.

This was the second of two former world number ones vanquished in successive nights by Bianca.

The teenager will play Su-Wei Hsieh in the semis after the third seed defeated Sara Sorribes Tormo 6-3 6-2 in their quarter final.