After she battled to a 5-7 6-4 6-4 win over Marie Bouzkova in the first round of the French Open, Bianca Andreescu told the media that she believes the way she plays could contribute to a very successful career.
“Ever since I was young, I would always change the rhythm,” the Canadian said in her press conference. “I would never hit more than two shots the same. And I guess that transitioned through my junior career, and I saw that it was helping me win matches because not many players played like that.”
She continued, “So I kept doing it and improving it, and it’s obviously paying off even at this level. So I just want to keep doing my thing, and I think I can do big things with my game style.”
Andreescu, 18, announced herself to the tennis world in March with her stunning triumph in Indian Wells. In the Californian desert, she beat Garbine Muguruza, Elina Svitolina and Angelique Kerber on her way to the title.
Since then, the Canadian has barely been seen on court due to a shoulder injury she picked up in the next event in Miami. Understandably, she feels she is some distance away from top form.
“This wasn’t one of my best matches at all,” Andreescu said. “I was getting pretty mad at myself. But it’s my first tournament back after an injury, so I tried to stay as calm as possible. I’m really proud of how I fought through the match with the tennis I had.”
Andreescu manages soaring expectations
Despite her youth, the Canadian has already risen to No.23 in the world. Unsurprisingly, this is a statistic she puts to the back of her mind whenever possible.
“There’s outside expectations and pressure from the fans,” she said. “But I really try not to focus on that. It’s not easy, but I think I’ve been doing it really well.”
Andreescu will face another of the WTA’s rising stars, Sofia Kenin, in round two. They have played four times before, with two wins apiece, so she knows what to expect from the American.
“I have a really good sense of how she plays, although not on clay,” the Canadian said. “I know it’s going to be a tough match. She gets to a lot of balls well. She’s a fighter. So I’m going to do the same things.”
It could be an excellent match between two exciting young talents, so make sure you tune in.
[Also published on womenssporthub.com]
