Ontarian Bianca Andreescu managed to overcome several calls for trainers to win her first round match at the National Bank Open in Toronto on Tuesday.
The queen of Flushing Meadows and the former Rogers Cup in 2019 defeated 11th seed Daria Kasatkina in straight sets 7-6(5), 6-4 on her return to Toronto for the first time in three years. She faced quite a challenge tonight against the winner of the San Jose tournament last week.
“I don’t want to be too dramatic, but I was disturbed, I’m so sorry for my attitude tonight. I really didn’t feel well. I never felt like this. I do not know what happened. I’m so happy that I was able to finish the job in straight sets, it was really important for me,” said Andreescu on the pitch, who fell ill in the middle of the tiebreaker that required taking its pressure.
“I would have liked to enjoy the atmosphere more. I was looking forward to being here, I wanted to be positive. I am grateful for the support I received, without you I don’t think I would have made it through,” she added after a 2:29 battle.
Andreescu has mentioned suffering from anxiety issues in the past and has also been affected by injuries. She has also skipped some tournaments to take care of her mental health.
” I feel much better. It has nothing to do with my back, I didn’t feel well, kind of like dizziness and I have no idea what it was. Maybe it was something that I ate, or the stress in place with the tournament”, reassured Andreescu after the meeting.
The Canadian expressed that she never thought of giving up the match, although she doubted her ability to finish it at some point.
“There was a moment when I was afraid of not being able to finish the game, but I didn’t have this thought in my head to give up. At one point I hit a shot and saw double,” Andreescu explained.
Andreescu will face France’s Alizé Cornet in the second round.
“I hope everything will be okay tomorrow. I know it will be,” Andreescu added of his health.
Cornet, 40th racket in the world, took the measure of his compatriot Caroline Garcia 3-6, 6-3, 6-3.
Marino eliminated
Elsewhere, China’s Zheng Qinwen defeated Canada’s Rebecca Marino 3-6, 7-5 (5), 6-4 in a first-round match.
The Vancouverite came to the tournament after making the quarter-finals in Washington last week.
Marino, who cracked the WTA top-100 for the first time since 2012, won the opening round with ease.
Zheng found her bearings in the second set and Marino made too many errors in the tiebreaker, giving up the set to her rival ranked 51st in the world.
The third set was hotly contested, but Zheng prevailed by winning the last three games.
Marino had 12 aces in the encounter, compared to 10 for Zheng.
In the next round, 19-year-old Zheng will face fifth seed Ons Jabeur.
Canadian Carol Zhao was also eliminated a little later. She lost the flag in less than 57 minutes to American Amanda Anisimova by scores of 6-1 and 6-3.
Victory of the Fernandez sisters
In doubles, sisters Leylah and Bianca Fernandez defeated the duo of Kirsten Flipkens and Sara Sorribes Tormo.
The Quebecers won in two sets of 6-4 and 6-1.
They will face eighth seeds Alexa Guarachi and Andreja Klepac in the round of 16.
The other Canadian pair made up of Kayla Cross and Victoria Mboko lost the tiebreaker 6-3, 5-7, 10-8 against Asia Muhammad and Ena Shibahara.
Marino and Zhao are already packing up in Toronto
