Jean-Guy Fugère
On Tuesday night at IGA Stadium, Bianca Andreescu’s triumphant return to the National Bank Open proved to be a bumpier ride than anticipated.
Still, in the end, the Canadian champion overpowered No.152 Harriet Dart of Great Britain in a two-hour roller-coaster (6-1, 3-6, 6-3).
After dominating a jaw-dropping first set, Bianca suffered a bout of doubt and difficulty, and a string of sketchy forehands and weak serves put Dart in control. The swirling winds across the court eventually blew the set out of Bianca’s reach.
In the third, it took a service break in the first game and 0-2 on the scoreboard for the Canadian to get into high gear.
And just like that, Bianca Andreescu was back in the match. Precise and serene, she found the magic from the first set.
When all was said and done, the 5,000 fans on Centre Court roared. Just like Bianca, they were thrilled to be back from the edge.