Ironically, the 18-year-old took control for a lengthy stretch after that brief exchange. Andreeva won nine of the next 11 games, as she looked to up her season record on clay to 10-1.
Then, things went south. Andreeva dropped the next five games, which included a missed match point on Bondar’s serve at 5-3. Taking a seat before needing to hold serve to force a tie-break, Andreeva told her team, “I’m not a champion. I’m not a champion,” in raising her hand with a no.
“I’m going to lose. I’m going to lose.”
Somehow, the two-time WTA 1000 champion kept things together just enough. The next seven points went her way, changing sides in the ‘breaker with a 4-2 lead. Bondar erased the mini break with a backhand winner and then again at 4-6 when Andreeva poorly cut a backhand drop shot.
