Bianca Andreescu leaves a mark on her first Roland Garros
18-year-old Bianca Andreescu advanced to the second round of the French Open by beating Marie Bouzkova 5-7 6-4 6-4. The Canadian managed to equal her Grand Slam best result yet, achieved during the 2019 Australian Open, to reach the draw of 64.
During her press conference after her opener win, Andreescu said, “It's my first main draw Grand Slam here at RG, so it's definitely something to celebrate,” said Andreescu, who has been out of the whole clay season before this week. “I've dreamt of this moment for a long time. [...] I didn't get any warm up tournament before this, but I got a lot of training on clay. And clay is one of my favorite surfaces, so I'm really glad I was able to play at least one tournament, especially the Grand Slam. It is one of my favorite tournaments, so I'm really pleased.”
If in Melbourne she had had to go through the whole qualifying process, in Paris she is the 22nd seed.
“I guess there are outside expectations and pressure from the audience, from the fans and all of that,” the Indian Wells titleholder explained about her quick rise in level.
“But, I mean, every time I step on the court, I really try not to focus on that. I know I say that a lot. And it's not easy, but I think I've been doing really well with that.
And even coming into Roland Garros, I try not to focus on how I'm No. 23 in the world. I just go out there and play my tennis.”
Her fast trek up the ranking isn’t the only special thing about the Auckland finalist, as her game style is known to be rare on the tour, “I was like that ever since I was young. I would always change the rhythm. 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 play like that.
So I just kept doing that and kept 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.”
Following up the question on her heterogeneous game, the young woman was asked whether she has practised with professional men player, or if she would like to. “I haven't done that,” answered Andreescu. “But I try to play with a variety. Because the guy ball isn't the same as a girl ball, so I try to have a good mix in there.
But I think practising with the guys gets you to be more physically engaged because their ball is way, I guess, heavier than the girl's ball.
But, no, I didn't really have a chance, but I would like to.”
Andreescu was set to play against American Sofia Kenin on Thursday for a chance to go forward in the competition. However, she announced her withdrawal soon after that of fellow player Kiki Bertens. Sofia Kenin has hence advanced to the third phase of the main draw by walk over.
from Tennis World USA http://bit.ly/2JIQil7
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