Time Is Operating Out on Me

By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Wednesday May 31, 2023

Five phrases inform us all we have to find out about Bianca Andreescu at Roland-Garros: “My fighting spirit is back.”

The Canadian, who suffered an ankle damage in Miami, and rocked up at Paris with an 0-2 report on clay this spring, dug deep to rally from a set down in opposition to Victoria Azarenka on Court Simonne-Mathieu on Monday night, storming again from a set and break all the way down to win 2-6, 6-3, 6-4.

The 22-year-old Canadian has by no means been past the second spherical in Paris, and was almost out within the first spherical on Tuesday. Azarenka had two break factors to take a double-break lead in set two however Andreescu was in a position to ratchet up her depth and take the play to the No.18 seed.

After the match Andreescu admitted that she’s had a troublesome time within the aftermath of her ankle damage, which slowed her momentum in the beginning of the clay season.

“Over the past few weeks I had a lot of bad days and a lot of negative thoughts crept in,” she stated. “I mean, this match definitely gives me confidence in that sense. Yeah, I want to go back to how hungry I was in 2019 more than ever.”

How did the Canadian discover the power to rally previous Azarenka on a day the place the court docket appeared to be tilted in her rival’s route? Andreescu shared a narrative about her grandmother, saying {that a} current dialogue helped kick-start her need.

“I’m going to be honest,” she stated. “This match I started thinking about my grandmother because she’s getting old, and I’m very close to her. She said: ‘Bianca, I really want to watch you win another major.’

“I had that in the back of my head at one point when I was down 3-1. I started to get emotional too. At that point something, like, just came out of me, and I started playing better. So just thinking about little things like that. Even reminding myself why I play the sport will definitely help.”

Azarenka will face American Emma Navarro within the second spherical in Paris. She has a comparatively favorable draw by three rounds – the 22-year-old would face both American Lauren Davis or Ukrainian Lesia Tsurenko within the third spherical if she advances.

After that, World No.1 and two-time Roland-Garros champion Iga Swiatek will possible lurk within the spherical of 16.

Looking Back at, however not Fixating on, 2019

Andreescu was surprisingly open about her emotions on her incapability to breed the magic of her 2019 season. Her phrases give perception into the strain she places on her personal shoulders.

“I always look back at 2019, but I also want to stay in the present moment,” she stated. “It’s always nice to have that reminder of: I’m a Grand Slam champion because sometimes I forget.

“Sometimes I feel pretty insecure about myself considering coming off a great 2019 and then not really doing anything per se and not living up to the expectations that I put on myself and, you know, everybody else around me.” The present World No.42 admits that she generally will get impatient, particularly on condition that she feels she has been doing the fitting issues on and off the court docket.

“I’m just trying to stay positive as much as I can,” she stated. “I know it’s cliche, but it works for me. And continuing to be patient because I know I’m doing the right things. I’ve been saying that for the past year and a half.

“I’m hoping to get a win soon because time is ticking here. I’m 23 very soon. I say that like I’m very old, but honestly, you see fricking Coco Gauff and Fruhvirtova. I don’t know if I’m saying that right. Like, you know, time is running out…”