Bianca Andreescu roared back yesterday after being blanked early on by former world No. 1 Garbine Muguruza to prevail 0-6, 7-6 (7/3), 6-1 in an absorbing battle that launched the Adelaide International 1 tournament.
The clash between the former Grand Slam champions at the WTA 500 event looked set to be a one-sided affair as Andreescu found herself down a set and trailing 5-2 in the next, but the 2019 US Open winner found her groove and mounted a comeback.
Dragging the second set into a tiebreak, she established a 4-2 lead before drawing level in the contest against twice major winner Muguruza with a powerful ace. She then surged ahead 3-1 in the decider before closing out the win as Muguruza wilted.
Photo: AFP
“In the second set, I really had to change my game plan. I told myself to go for it, whatever happens, happens,” Andreescu said. “I put more returns in the court and more serves in the court. I’m so glad I pulled that out, I have no idea how.”
The Canadian next plays fourth seed Veronika Kudermetova or Amanda Anisimova who are to face off today.
Top-ranked Novak Djokovic is to play his first-round singles match against Constant Lestienne of France today.
All eyes will be on Djokovic who returns to Australia after being deported last year because of visa problems caused by his vaccination stance.
Djokovic won the Adelaide International as a 19-year-old in 2007 for his third ATP Tour title.
“I chose Adelaide because I wanted to get a tournament ahead of Australian Open,” Djokovic said last week. “I wanted a normal 250 event.”
“Judgeing by the list of players that are playing in a 250 event it’s not really 250 event. It’s maybe a 500 event or maybe a 1000. Some of the best players in the world playing here, both men and women’s side,” he said.
“The field is super strong. You have Medvedev, Felix, Rublev,” Djokovic said. “You have really, really top guys. Also in the opening rounds you can play Thanasi Kokkinakis, who is title defender, right?”
Later yesterday, Marcos Giron of the US outlasted veteran Richard Gasquet 7-6 (7/5), 6-7 (6/8), 7-5 in a first-round singles match that lasted just under 3 hours.
Estonian Kaia Kanepi also came through a tough battle as she beat Aliaksandra Sasnovich 4-6, 6-1, 6-4.
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