Bianca Andreescu found parallels between her success at the US Open back in 2019 and that of British tennis sensation Emma Raducanu at the same event last year.
Andreescu made quite the splash three years ago when she captured her maiden Grand Slam in New York. She became the first Canadian to win a major in singles, and at only 19, she defeated the legendary Serena Williams on home turf.
Raducanu emulated Andreescu just two years later as the next teenage Grand Slam winner, coming of age to lift her first career title. Her breakthrough was even more remarkable on the scales compared to the Canadian's because the Briton had to go through three rounds of qualifying to reach the main draw before making history.
She remains the one and only qualifier in the Open Era to win a Grand Slam, and that success has already thrown Raducanu into the limelight, much like it did with Andreescu until injuries haunted her.
Raducanu is going through a similar experience before her showdown with Andreescu, pitting two women who won the US Open as teenagers. During the pre-match interview, the 21-year-old Andreescu reflected on what she called a "weird coincidence."
Additionally, Andreescu spared some positive words for Raducanu, who has struggled to replicate that blistering form at the US Open in early 2022. They will face off in the first round of the Italian Open.
"I've thought about the parallels, but I don't go crazy. It's just a really weird coincidence. I watched her win the US Open, and I was really happy for her because I won it basically around her age. Obviously she was playing a Canadian, so that was really nice too. She's a really great player, so I'm expecting a really good match. I remember saying, I want to play her - and it looks like I got my wish."