'She's ... must-see on tour': Lesia Tsurenko pays tribute to Bianca Andreescu after Canadian's Hua Hin injury

WATCH: Lesia Tsurenko moved through to her first final in four years when Bianca Andreescu retired from their semifinal match in Hua Hin.

It takes one to know one. Lesia Tsurenko had kind words for 2019 US Open champion Bianca Andreescu after the Canadian was forced to retire from their semifinal match in Hua Hin, Thailand.

In a match-up between two players with well-documented injury struggles since their peak years, Andreescu led 5-3 in the first set, but didn't win another game after that. Tsurenko broke serve to love when Andreescu served for it at 5-4, and with the Ukrainian ahead 6-5, the Canadian received a medical timeout with treatment to her neck and shoulder area.

Tsurenko's momentum continued into the second set, and Andreescu retired after losing serve for a fourth straight time.

Despite its premature ending, Tsurenko later paid tribute to Andreescu's effort in the 97-minute match, played in hot and humid nighttime conditions.

"I think Bianca is just an amazing player. I told her that after the match," Tsurenko said in her on-court interview. "I think, the way she's playing tennis, is must-see on tour because she's capable of doing all kinds of shots. It gave me so much trouble today.

"But I was just fighting, and saying to myself positive things, that I can do it. Unfortunately, she had to retire because the shoulder is not so good, but it was a great match I think."

Like Andreescu, Tsurenko too has been snake-bitten with stop-and-start form since 2019. The former world No. 23 has been plagued by chronic elbow issues since reaching her career-best ranking, and came into Hua Hin ranked No. 136.

Playing in her first final since finishing runner-up at the Brisbane International four years ago, Tsurenko will face Zhu Lin in Sunday's final in pursuit of her fifth career WTA singles title.