PARIS | She won at Indian Wells, Toronto and the US Open when she was just a teenager. But it took Bianca Andreescu to stay away from the pitch for six months for her to start feeling really confident.
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This long break was life-saving for the 21-year-old Canadian, who, undermined by the pressure, thought about hanging up her racquet for good despite her young age.
“I have a lot more self-confidence now,” she admitted yesterday at a press conference. Even though I had this cut. I feel better mentally, physically. »
This confidence and good form have been visible since his return to the courts in April. However, the draws of the tournaments in which she participated did not spare her.
Five top-15
Despite having to face five top-15 opponents, the Ontarian reached the round of 16 in Stuttgart and Madrid, then the quarterfinals in Rome. All of the opponents she beat were ranked higher than her.
The former fourth in the world, who fell to 72nd level in particular because of this long break, is obviously playing much better than her ranking indicates.
And thanks to sustained efforts in training, she says she is ready to battle it out on the trying clay courts of Paris, where she will start tomorrow with a match against Belgian qualifier Ysaline Bonaventure, 170and in the world.
“It’s really good to be in top physical shape,” pointed out Andreescu. So, I try to get up earlier than others in the morning to get ready. All that, I think will help me on the court. »
Wimbledon: players would have liked to be consulted
PARIS | The decision of the ATP and the WTA not to distribute points in the classification at Wimbledon, as retaliation for the banishment of the Russians and Belarusians, has shocked some players who deplore not having been consulted.
A bigger voice
“Our opinion was not taken into account. I would like us to talk collectively about the situation. I hope that we can ensure that the players have a bigger voice, ”regrets the Canadian Bianca Andreescu yesterday, at the microphone of Radio-Canada.
Andreescu said he was against “war, period”, but said he wrote to the WTA to express his dissatisfaction, like several other players.
“Not informed enough”
His compatriot Leylah Fernandez refused to comment at a press conference, saying “not being informed enough”.
“It’s a complex situation in which we find ourselves,” she added. I hope that in the days to come, the players will be better informed and that we can form a clearer opinion. »
In April, Wimbledon decided to ban Russian and Belarusian players from its next edition, which will be held from the end of June.
The organizers of the major tournament took this decision in response to the recommendations of the English government, which “wishes to limit the global influence of Russia”, following the armed invasion of Ukraine, in which the Belarus.
Both the ATP and the WTA, the bodies which respectively govern men’s and women’s tennis, but not the four major tournaments, had criticized this ban as soon as it was announced.