Mississauga’s Andreescu wins opening match at US Open tennis tourney

Bianca Andreescu really, really likes playing tennis in New York City.

The 22-year-old Mississauga native defeated France’s Harmony Tan 6-0, 3-6, 6-1 in opening-round action this afternoon (Aug. 29) at the US Open.

In now 12 career US Open matches, the Canadian tennis star has lost only once. She’ll look to better that mark when she takes on a yet-to-be-determined opponent in round two play on Wednesday.

Andreescu, who burst onto the international tennis scene with a stunning 2019 US Open victory, continues to fight her way back to the upper ranks of the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) circuit.

She has steadily climbed the WTA rankings this year to her current No. 48 slot.

After her successful 2019 results, Andreescu fell on tougher times soon after. For two years or so, she battled injuries, a bout with COVID-19 and mental health issues.

She didn’t play at all in 2020.

Tan is ranked No. 112 by the WTA.

Andreescu’s results so far this year have been mixed. She’s advanced far at some tournaments, while unexpectedly bowing out early in others.

Her rollercoaster comeback journey took a bit of a dip at the prestigious Wimbledon tournament in London earlier this summer. She was eliminated from the major event in the second round, falling 6-4, 7-6 to Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina (WTA No. 23 at the time).

In her most recent tourney, Andreescu advanced to the round of 16 at the National Bank Open in Toronto before losing to China’s Qinwen Zheng (WTA No. 51 at the time).

She won the National Bank Open in 2019, the last time it was staged.

After her National Bank Open defeat, Andreescu withdrew the following week from the Cincinnati Western & Southern Open.

She told The Guardian last week that pulling out of the tournament has helped her regroup and prepare for this week’s Grand Slam event in New York.