Olivia Gadecki continues Guadalajara run, makes maiden WTA final
Australia’s Olivia Gadecki defeated Camila Osorio in the semi-finals of the Guadalajara Open on Saturday evening in Columbia, sending the 22-year-old through to her maiden WTA Tour-level final.
The world No.152 had already broken new ground in Guadalajara making her first-ever semi-final on Tour.
Now, Gadecki guarantees that she will crack the world’s top 100 on Monday, and becomes the highest-ranked Australian woman.
“It was a very good match,” declared Gadecki after the 6-2, 6-3 win over No.80 Osorio.
“I thought I played exceptionally well throughout the whole match.
“I mean, I got a little bit nervous at 4-1, I started to think a little bit ahead and that sort of thing.
“But I just kept believing in myself and just kept backing myself, and I’m really pleased with myself.”
Gadecki once again was brilliant on return, winning almost 47% of return points as she broke her higher-ranked opponent on four occasions across the one-hour, 19-minute match.
So far this week in Guadalajara, Gadecki has defeated four straight top 100 players, having only beaten two in her whole career prior to this tennis tournament.
She began by knocking out former Grand Slam finalist Sloane Stephens, after earning a spot in the WTA 500 main draw through qualifying.
Gadecki then defeated world No.11 Danielle Collins, former major semi-finalist Martina Trevisan, and now Osorio for a spot in the final.
Frech stands between Gadecki and maiden title
In the final, Gadecki will take on fifth seed Magdelena Frech.
The Pole beat former world No.4 Caroline Garcia in her semi-final, edging out the Frenchwoman 7-6 (4), 7-5 for her second final of the season.
Frech is having a strong year, sitting just one spot below her career-high ranking of No.42 in the world coming into Guadalajara.
“It’s tough to describe right now, I have a lot of emotions inside of me,” Frech said after her victory.
“It’s my first WTA 500 final, so it’s really special. It’s a big step.”
Tennis betting sites are unable to split the two finalists, with Bet365 paying $1.90 each way in outright betting for the Guadalajara final.
This is the first time that Gadecki has not been an underdog at the the leading bookmakers heading into a match this week.