Bianca Andreescu admits she is frustrated with her performance after losing in the first round of the National Bank Open in Toronto.
Andreescu was in complete control of her match against Ukraine’s Lesia Tsurenko after winning the first seven games played before falling 0-6, 6-3, 6-4. A frustrating outcome for the Canadian who won the tournament five years ago in 2019. During the last two sets of her match, she was broken in six out of her nine service games played.
“I played some of my best tennis for the first set and a little bit,” The Canadian Press quoted Adnreescu as saying afterwards.
“And then tennis just kicks you right in the butt sometimes.”
The 24-year-old is currently ranked 175th in the world and has only played six tournaments so far this season after missing the first part of this year due to a back injury. Andreescu, who is a former US Open champion, has been troubled by physical problems throughout her career. These include issues with her knee, foot and ankle.
“All I can really think about is how s—-y I feel,” she continued.
“I was feeling really great coming into the tournament, feeling my tennis really well.”
Meanwhile, Tsurenko has registered her first Tour-level win since April. Coming into this week, she had only won one out of her last six matches played. Although two of those defeated were due to retirements.
Tsurenko will next play 10th seed Anna Kalinskaya, who defeated American qualifier Louisa Chirico 6-2, 6-3.
There was better news for another former champion with Elina Svitolina storming past Shelby Rogers 6-2, 6-0, in her opening match. The 2017 champion dropped serve only once in the match and capitalised on her opponent’s unforced error count of 35.
“I love to play here,” said Svitolina who is playing in Toronto for the first time since 2019. “I won here years ago. It’s always a pleasure for me to play here in front of so many great fans. Just happy to be here.”
Svitolina has won 22 matches on the Tour so far this year. In the next round, she will play compatriot Marta Kostyuk who is seeded 11th in the draw. Kostyuk began her campaign with a comprehensive 6-0, 6-2, win over Germany’s Tatjana Maria.
