Bianca Andreescu's 2019- Part 2

Bianca Andreescu’s 2019 season part 1 here- https://tgsweekly.blogspot.com/2019/11/bianca-andreescus-2019-part-1.html 

PART 2

Miami/Roland Garros

After winning her first WTA singles title in Indian Wells there was a lot of discussion whether she should play the tournament in Miami the week after. Bianca looked very fatigued at the end of the final and it was a quick turnaround going into Miami.

She decided to play and her first round opponent was who she faced in R1 of Indian Wells, Irina-Camelia Begu! Bibi looked down and out in the match trailing 2-6 1-5 and was rightly frustrated! What happened next was incredible, she fought back saving a match point to take the second set in a tiebreak!! She then pulled away in the third set proving too strong for Begu!! She then advanced to the 4th round getting revenge on Sofia Kenin from Acapulco and then defeating Angelique Kerber for a second time in 6 days.

Then came the problems... Bianca had to retire from her 4th round match against Kontaveit due to a shoulder injury! She wasn’t to return for 2 months having to miss the Fed Cup play off vs Czech Republic in that time! She finally returned to court at the end of the clay season, Roland Garros! She defeated Bouzkova in R1 (I was at this rollercoaster match) but then the shoulder problems came back 😭 She had returned too early and there was another big setback. She had to pull out of her R2 match and then missed ANOTHER 2 months on tour, it was a tough time for her but she stood strong and was to return for her home tournament in Toronto!!

Toronto

Going into Toronto, there was no expectations... We just wanted a healthy Bianca back on court in front of all the home fans!! The draw was made and of course, she gets fellow Canadian Eugenie Bouchard in R1😂 Tickets we’re selling fast for the much anticipated match with a bumper crowd there to see both of them battle it out for a place in R2!!

They both had their injury problems in 2019 and we didn’t know what to expect going into the match!! It really delivered with the fans definitely getting there money’s worth watching them battle it out. Bianca turned the match around from a set down to advance to R2☺️ There was a lovely exchange between the two who have the upmost respect for each other!! Daria Kasatkina was next and that proved to be a tough battle too. The match went the distance with Bianca coming back from 3-5 down final set!! She showed brilliant mental strength to comeback in that match against a very tricky player 💪

Next up in the round of 16 was Kiki Bertens, this match was always going to be hard due to Bianca’s last two matches being very long and a quick turn around from the match vs Kasatkina. She found an inner strength to fight through the pain barrier and secure ANOTHER victory in 3 sets coming from behind again!!! She was through to the quarter finals of her home tournament, the title was looking a real possibility!! Another big server was Bianca’s opponent in the quarter finals... She faced Karolina Pliskova and got off to a lightening start taking the first set 6-0🔥 no one was expecting this and it was the first time since 2016 that Pliskova had been bagelled, she was neutralising her serve very well!! Pliskova fought back in the second and put the pressure on in the third set but Bianca broke at the right time to take the match💪 

The dream run in her home town continued when she faced Kenin for a place in the final, it was a very close match! Bianca had many match points in the second set but couldn’t convert but finally in the tie break she was able to take one to advance to the final!!! Serena Williams was the player between her and the title!! It was a sell out crowd for this match, no one expected Bianca to reach the final in her first tournament back after being sidelined for 4 months!! Unfortunately Serena had to retire after 4 games due to a back injury which meant Bianca claimed the title in her home town😍it really was a dream come true, this was the tournament she dreamed of winning at a young age!! The courts she practiced on for years and years, she had won her home

tournament ❤️

US Open

After the success of her home tournament, Bianca’s next tournament was the US Open!! It was the final grand slam of the year and so many people’s eyes were on Bianca with people backing her to go see in the tournament, maybe even winning her first slam!!! Her R1 opponent was Katie Volynets who received a WC into the tournament! She dispatched her easily in straight sets in front of a packed out court 💪

Next was the experienced and tricky Kirsten Flipkens... Bianca won this match in straight sets too which turned out to be very entertaining!! She then faced Wozniacki in R3 on Arthur Ashe Stadium, Bianca again won comfortably in straight sets!! It was actually a nice change to see some stress free matches as there was so many 3 set matches in 2019😂

In Round 4 Bianca faced Taylor Townsend. It was a surprise to many that Townsend made it this far defeating Halep in R2!! Her serve and volley game caused no problems to Bianca, she was finding the right answers against her. Townsend was able to take Bianca to 3 sets but Bianca pulled away in the final set to advance to her first Grand Slam quarter final!! She was to face Elise Mertens of Belgium. Mertens started off strongly taking the first set 6-3 but Bianca found a new level in set 2 and 3 and came back to win the match 🔥 I was so happy, she was through to the semi finals of a grand slam!! “Is this real life?”😍

 The whole of Canada was watching! Was she gonna be the first Canadian to win a grand slam in singles??? She faced Belinda Bencic in the semi finals, it was a topsy turvy match!! Bencic had set points in set 1 but Bianca won it in a tiebreak 7-6(3)!! Belinda then started the second set very well getting herself to a 5-2 lead but Bianca fought back and broke Belinda 3 times in a row to take the match 7-6(3) 7-5 😍 She was through to her first grand slam final and she’d face the legend that is Serena Williams for the title 😱

The media attention she was getting was crazy!! All of Canada we’re watching in anticipation!! 95% of the crowd were on Serena’s side as you’d expect but Bianca fans could be heard in the crowd too. Bianca got off to a flying start, breaking Serena’s serve early on in the first set!!! She didn’t drop her serve once and took the first set comfortably!! She then found herself trying to serve out the match second set but Serena, like the champion she is fought back valiantly!! More people wrote Bianca off at 5-5 second set but she was so mentally strong and held her own serve and put the pressure back on Serena😍 she found herself at match point and an amazing return caught Serena off guarded and Bianca had won her FIRST GRAND SLAM!!!! There were so many emotions from her to her box, to people in Canada and others around the world!! She had written history 😭💪 There was so much media attention for her after winning the US Open, it was amazing!! Who would have expected this going into 2019😱 She was at a caterer high ranking of World Number 5!!

Beijing 

After a hectic month, Bianca returned to tour in Beijing. This would be her final tournament before the WTA Finals which she qualified for, for the first time!!

Her first round opponent was an out of form Aliaksandra Sasnovich. She was taken to 3 sets but pulled away in the final set against the resilient Belarusian! Her second round match was against Mertens, who she faced on the way to US Open glory!! It was a very tight match with hardly anything between them but Bianca, once again played the big points better to win the match 6-3 7-6(5)! Jennifer Brady was her third round opponent, she had faced her multiple times in previous years having no trouble against her!! Bianca once again played a great match vs Brady winning 6-1 6-3💪 She was on a 17 match winning with her last lost match being 6 months previous to this!!

An inspired Naomi Osaka was her Quarter Final opponent! It was a match everyone had been waiting for between the best two young players of the past 2 years!! The match Of course delivered, 3 long sets. It was a blockbuster!!! Unfortunately Bianca suffered her first loss in 18 matches and it was very hard to see!! It had been an incredible run and she was hoping to start another one going into the WTA Finals!

WTA Finals

There was much expected of Bianca going into the WTA Finals, many peoples favourite to take the title! She was placed in a group with Halep, Pliskova and Svitolina!!  Her first match was against one of her idols growing up, Simona Halep. Bianca got off to a great start winning the first set 6-3. It got to the closing stage of the second set with Bianca tiring... She had one match point which she couldn’t convert and Halep was able to take the second set in a tiebreak and she pulled away from there... Bianca looked really tired with her body seeming to give up on her after such a tough but unbelievable season!

There was talk whether she’d play her second match vs Pliskova having had a back problem in her previous match! She went onto play and got off to another quick start but then picked up a knee injury in the first couple of games... it was a very serious injury that was thought to be the Miniscus🥺 she continued to play until she lost the first set. Her movement was a real problem so she had to retire from the WTA Finals...

It was so sad to see her fantastic season end like this but there was so many memories to look back on!! Going into 2019 as a fan I’d never have thought Bianca would win 4 titles, one being a grand slam!! I always knew she would be a successful player that wins slams but this early really surprised me💪 She took the tennis world by storm, now she’s the player everyone will want to beat in 2020!! I cannot wait to see what next year holds for her in what is the Olympic year 😊