After overcoming a challenging start at the 2023 Miami Open, Bianca Andreescu has her sights set on reclaiming her position among tennis's elite.
The former US Open champion demonstrated immense resilience as she battled back from a set down to defeat No.7 seed Maria Sakkari in a thrilling three-setter, securing her place in the third round. This victory marks an important milestone for Andreescu as she aims to regain her confidence and once again challenge for major titles.
Andreescu's hard-fought win over Sakkari showcased her determination and unwavering spirit. Despite feeling on the defensive for much of the match, she managed to dig deep and capitalize on crucial points, ultimately emerging victorious.
The Canadian acknowledged the significance of such wins, stating that they are instrumental in rebuilding her confidence and helping her become fearless on the court once more.
"I felt like I was on my heels a lot of the time during the match, but I made every ball. I fought to the end, and I think I played the important points just a little bit better today. But, yeah, it could have gone either way today."
"It's just another step in gaining most of my confidence back. I'm feeling really good on the court. I'm trying to be as fearless as I can be. It's not always easy, but I feel like I'm getting there, and wins like this obviously help with that because at this point I think it's just me getting matches in and playing tough rounds like this and knowing I can win."
With a renewed sense of purpose and self-belief, Andreescu now faces the 2020 Australian Open champion, Sofia Kenin. Although Andreescu holds a 2-1 lead in their professional head-to-head encounters, their upcoming match will be their first since both players claimed their maiden major titles. The last time they faced off was during the 2019 Toronto semifinals, where Andreescu clinched victory in a tightly contested match.
"I think she's playing great tennis. I've watched a few of her matches this year. I know that she might not be doing as well as she's hoping, but same with me. So I think it's going to be an interesting matchup."
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