TORONTO (Reuters) - Bianca Andreescu beat American Sofia Kenin 6-4 7-6(5) at the Rogers Cup on Saturday to become the first Canadian woman to reach the championship match of the tournament since 1969.
Andreescu, who shot to prominence with her Indian Wells triumph in March, extended her dream run in her home country when she fired a backhand winner on her fifth match point.
For Andreescu, who made her return to action in Toronto after missing the last few months with a shoulder injury, the win was her first two-set victory all week after having spent more time on court than any other player.
"I've been through so much the past two months, and all I can say is I'm so happy to be back on court," an emotional Andreescu said on-court.
"I'm glad it was two sets today, but it wasn't easy. I was so so nervous and I just felt like crying after because I'm just so happy. I'd say this is even bigger than winning Indian Wells."
The unseeded Canadian has knocked out some big names this week, including Dutch fifth seed Kiki Bertens in the last 16 and Czech third seed Karolina Pliskova in the quarters where she needed a medical timeout to tend to a groin injury.
Andreescu, who had not competed since the Kenin beat her in the French Open second round, will face three-times champion Serena Williams or Czech qualifier Marie Bouzkova in Sunday's final.
(Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto, editing by Ed Osmond)