Tuesday, June 22, 2021. 10:49 AM
(Update : Tuesday, June 22, 2021. 4:28 PM)
EASTBOURNE, United Kingdom – Canadians Bianca Andreescu and Vasek Pospisil started the Eastbourne grass tournament on the right foot on Tuesday.
The Ontarian worked hard before defeating American Christina McHale 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 in the first round, while Pospisil defeated Briton James Ward 6-4, 6 -4.
Andreescu, who continues his preparation for the Wimbledon tournament, defeated McHale in two hours and four minutes on the English lawn. It was the first career game between Andreescu and McHale.
The Canadian, seventh player in the world, is trying to bounce back after being ousted in the first round of her two previous tournaments – including the French Open.
Andreescu offered some erratic play during the game. She only converted five of her 13 break points at the expense of 29-year-old McHale, who ranks 96th in the world. In addition, she saved only four of the eight break points offered to her opponent, in addition to having committed four double faults over the course of the duel.
After sharing the honors in the first two sets, the 2019 US Open champion recovered and dominated the final round.
Andreescu will face Estonian Anett Kontaveit in the next round, who beat Russia’s Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.
Kontaveit is 27th in the WTA.
On the men’s side, Pospisil scored his first victory since the Qatar Open last March.
The Vancouverite, who occupies the 66th place in the world, ousted Ward in one hour and 13 minutes. He thus increased his career record against the 340th player in the world to 2-0.
Pospisil, who lost in the first round last week at the tournament in Halle, Germany, will meet in the next round with the Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, sixth seed.
This is the last preparatory grass tournament before the prestigious Wimbledon tournament takes place, starting June 28.
In addition, the Canadian Brayden Schnur defeated his compatriot Steven Diez in the first round of qualifying for the Wimbledon tournament, at the All England Club.
Schnur, 232nd in the world, registered a 6-3, 2-6, 6-3 victory over Diez, who is at 189th echelon.
In the next round, Schnur will face Czech Tomas Machac, 27th seed in the qualifying table, who ousted Spaniard Tommy Robredo 7-5, 4-6 and 10-8 at the end of the day.
