“I really had one phrase in my mind,” Bondar said. “Refuse to lose.” 

Last year’s runner-up improves to 8-1 at the event, and 2-1 against Avanesyan, the 208-ranked Armenian (formerly 36) who reached the semis from qualifying.

“I really wanted to make the final after last year,” Bondar, who lost to Lois Boisson in last year’s final, said. “I just had to fight for every point.” 

Bondar is into her second career WTA final. 

Avenesyan had a pair of set points while serving at 5-4 in the first set, and another pair while serving at 6-5. She eventually lost the last four points of the opening-set tiebreak. 

Undeterred, Avanesyan rallied from 3-0 down to take six of the final seven games of set two. 

Bondar trailed 2-0 and 3-1 in the decider. 

Avanesyan had a match point with Bondar serving at 4-5 ad-out and missed a backhand long. Two games later she had two more chances to clinch, with Bondar serving at 5-6, ad-out again. Bondar ripped a down-the-line forehand winner on the first, and another on the second. 

Those three points may have taken a toll on the Armenian. Bondar won the first five points of the breaker and held her ground to finish the epic victory. 

Tennis Express

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In the end she finished with 68 winners against 83 unforced errors; while the steady Avanesyan produced 31 winners against 19 unforced errors in defeat.