Bianca Andreescu Captures 2019 Indian Wells Title with Win vs. Angelique Kerber

Bianca Andreescu beat Angelique Kerber in three sets to win the 2019 BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in California on Sunday.

The Canadian broke serve in the first game of the match and did not face a single break point on her way to taking the first set 6-4 in 40 minutes.

However, the German responded well to the early setback and hit back in the second, needing just a single break to take it 6-3 and send an enthralling final into a decider.

The two players went on to produce a thrilling third set. Andreescu served for the set at 5-3 only to be denied by a determined Kerber, before breaking again to clinch it 6-4 and take the title.

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Andreescu came out with her right arm taped but showed no signs of weakness and put pressure on Kerber from the off. The 18-year-old earned two break points in the first game, and a double-fault from the German handed her an early advantage.

Kerber managed to shrug off her early nerves but was forced to work hard just to hold serve, as Andreescu showed off her full range of shots in the early exchanges.

The teenager continued to exert pressure on Kerber's serve with her power and delicate touch, leaving the eighth seed to take refuge under her towel between games:

Kerber failed to force a single break point in the first set but did make the Canadian serve it out after hitting a fizzing backhand that just caught the line to hold at 5-4.

Andreescu showed a few signs of nerves and threw in a double-fault at 30-15 that may have given Kerber a glimmer of hope she could break back.

However, she quickly regained her composure, hammering another forehand crosscourt winner past her opponent to clinch the first set 6-4:

Kerber looked a little frustrated at the start of the second set, wasting a good chance to move 2-1 up with a poor lob that Andreescu volleyed home to take the game to deuce and then force two break points.

The German managed to hold serve and then earned her first break point in the next game when Andreescu netted an easy volley. Another forehand into the net gave Kerber the break and a 3-1 lead.

Meanwhile, the youngster was handed some advice after losing a third straight game to go 4-1 down:

Andreescu was forced to dig deep to hold serve for 5-3 but could not prevent Kerber from serving it out and forcing the decider.

The youngster looked in trouble at the start of the second. She slipped 0-30 down and showed real resilience to come back and hold, before calling for the trainer:

Andreescu appeared to be tiring, and Kerber had her chance to move ahead after earning two break points at 2-2. The youngster saved the first but netted the second to put the German in the lead of the match for the first time.

The pressure appeared to be getting to Andreescu, who seemed to be losing hope in a chat with her coach:

Yet the pep talk had the desired effect, as Andreescu produced some powerful hitting to break straight back and then hold serve to move 4-3 up.

The winners continued to come from the inspired teenager, who moved into a 5-3 lead and went on to serve for the match.

Yet Kerber produced some incredible defence to frustrate her opponent and stay in the championship at 5-4:

Andreescu needed treatment for cramps as her efforts throughout the tournament started to tell but simply refused to be denied.

A forehand winner secured the victory on her fourth match point to make her the only WTA wild card in Indian Wells history to win the title.