Tennis: Andreescu makes gritty comeback to beat Muguruza in Adelaide
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Bianca Andreescu won Garbine Muguruza 0-6, 7-6 (7-3), 6-1.
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ADELAIDE – Bianca Andreescu staged a dramatic comeback on Sunday to topple Garbine Muguruza in a battle of former Grand Slam champions on day one of the Adelaide International.
The Canadian, who won the 2019 US Open, was crushed in the first set and slipped 2-5 behind in the second before surging home 0-6, 7-6 (7-3), 6-1 to get her season off to a winning start.
It maintained her perfect record against two-time Grand Slam winner and former world No. 1 Muguruza, improving to 3-0.
“In the second set I really had to change my game plan,” said the 22-year-old Andreescu, who has slipped to 46th in the world.
“I told myself to go for it, whatever happens, happens. I put more returns in the court, more serves in the court. I’m so glad I pulled that out, I have no idea how.”
Spain’s Muguruza, who won the French Open in 2016 and Wimbledon a year later, claimed the first set in commanding fashion, outnumbering Andreescu in winners eight to two, not facing a break point.
Andreescu started the second set more strongly, only for Muguruza to break for 4-2 then consolidate for 5-2 with serve.
But the world No. 55 could not close out the victory and Andreescu took it to a tiebreak where a sizzling backhand winner gave her pivotal 4-2 lead.
A demoralised Muguruza had no answers as the Canadian swept her aside in the third set to set up a second-round clash against either fourth seed Veronika Kudermetova or Amanda Anisimova.
In other singles action, Estonian veteran Kaia Kanepi also came from behind to outlast Belarusian Aliaksandra Sasnovich 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 and will next meet either Ekaterina Alexandrova or Marketa Vondrousova.
Americans Shelby Rogers and Claire Liu also progressed.
Top seed Novak Djokovic headlines the men’s field and is set to play France’s Constant Lestienne on Monday in his first match in Australia since being deported in 2022 over his Covid-19 vaccination status.
“I chose Adelaide because I wanted to get a tournament ahead of Australian Open,” Djokovic said last week.
“I wanted a normal 250 event. Judging 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 1,000.
“Some of the best players in the world playing here, both men and women’s side. The field is super strong.” AFP
