Toronto champion Bianca Andreescu withdraws from Cincinnati
The 19-year=old Bianca Andreescu has been one of the players of the season so far despite playing only eight tournaments, entering the top-15 after another marvelous week at home in Toronto. Playing only one match after Miami, Bianca made the best possible return in front of the home fans, battling past Eugenie Bouchard, Daria Kasatkina, Kiki Bertens, Karolina Pliskova, Sofia Kenin and Serena Williams for the second title of the season after Indian Wells and a huge boost ahead of the US Open. Dealing with the opponents and a groin injury, Bianca has decided to take a deserved break, withdrawing from Cincinnati and recovering energy after barely playing any tennis in the previous four months. A teenager needed just three months to show her enormous talent and abilities in 2019, entering Auckland from outside the top-150 and finding herself in the top-25 by the end of March!
Bianca has won 38 out of 42 matches this year, earning the status of the future star to watch at Indian Wells where she claimed the title following back-to-back top-10 triumphs over Elina Svitolina and Angelique Kerber, becoming the youngest winner in the desert since Serena Williams! Andreescu kicked off the season with the final in Auckland as a qualifier, winning a match at the Australian Open as well after passing three qualifying rounds and heading to Newport Beach to conquer the 125K Series event and crack the top-100 at the age of 18.
Helping her country in the Fed Cup against the Netherlands in February, Bianca was also the semi-finalist in Acapulco before that historical Indian Wells that propelled her towards the very top of women's tennis. Her body couldn't endure that challenging pace, though, as Bianca started to deal with a shoulder injury that forced her to retire in the fourth round of Miami against Anett Kontaveit. After some time off the court, Andreescu went to Europe, working at Rafa Nadal Academy for a few days and trying to make a return at Roland Garros, only to find out she is not ready to compete again. Everything seemed to be fine with that shoulder in Toronto and Bianca should be among the favorites at the US Open if she brings her 'A-game,' already scoring seven wins over the top-10 rivals without losing any!
"I've never been there, so I'm really disappointed to say that I have to withdraw from the tournament," Andreescu said. "I really have to listen to my body right now. This past week hasn't been easy on it, so I'm going to listen to it and hopefully next year I'll be good to go."
from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2Z0YKmL
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