Bianca Andreescu came back from 1-3 down to beat Japanese qualifier Mei Yamaguchi 7-5 6-3 in the opening round of the Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo.
Andreescu went up a 2-0 lead with an early break in the first game. Yamaguchi broke straight back at love in the third game. Yamaguchi earned a second break to open up a 3-1 lead, but Andreeva broke straight back in the sixth game to draw level to 3-3 with her forehand and drop shot. Yamaguchi hit eight winners in the first four games and 19 overall. Andreescu reeled off the final three games to win the first set 6-3. Andreescu saved three break points to hold serve after four deuces in the second game of the second set. Andreescu broke at 15 in the third game to take a 2-1 lead, but Yamaguchi broke straight back to draw level to draw level to 2-2. Andreescu broke again in the fifth game and held serve easily to open up a 4-2 lead. Yamaguchi saved two break points in a six-deuce seventh game. Andreescu broke again to seal the wi on her second match point.
“Yamaguchi played amazing. She really earned her spot in the main draw. I really had a tough time against her, and I am sure I am going to see her very soon again”, said Andreescu.
Andreescu will face Brazil’s Beatriz Haddad Maia for the third time in her career.
Andreescu had been sidelined by a knee injury between the US Open and Osaka, where she lost in the first round against Greet Minnen. The Canadian player lost to Paolini in the third round at both Roland Garros and Wimbledon last summer.
The 2019 US Open champion had not won a match since the second round at the Olympic Games in Paris. She lost in the opening round to Jasmine Paolini in the first round of this year’s US Open. Leylah Fernandez reached the second round when lucky loser Aliaksandra Sasnovich was forced to withdraw as she was trailing 5-7 6-2 5-2 due to breathing problems. Sasnovich broke in the fifth game to take a 3-2 lead. Fernandez broke back in the 10th game to draw level to 5-5 after saving two set points. Sasnovich served out the first set 7-5 at 30 in the 12th game. Both players traded breaks in the second and third games of the second set. Fernandez won four consecutive games including two breaks to win the second set 6-2. Sasnovich saved three break points in the second game before breaking serve at deuce to take a 2-1 lead. Fernandez broke twice to reel off four consecutive games before Sasnovich retired from the match.
