INDIAN WELLS
Bianca Andreescu advanced to the second round of the Indian Wells Masters after coming from behind to beat Irina-Camelia Begu 6-7(3), 6-3, 6-3 in her opening match of the tournament. Andreescu, who received a wild card to the main draw, will now face Dominika Cibulková in the next round.
Competing at Indian Wells for the first time in her career, the Canadian got off to a difficult start, dropping the first four games of the match, including two on her own serve. The 18-year-old made an impressive comeback, though, breaking her Romanian opponent three times in a row to pull level on games and force a tie break, which Begu went onto win 7-3.
Despite recovering from 5-1 down in the first set, Bianca Andreescu drops it in a tiebreak as opponent Irina-Camelia Begu out-steadies her from the baseline to move ahead 7-6(3).
Can Bianca reset and push this to a third? Tune in on WTA TV or DAZN. #BNPPO19
— Tennis Canada (@TennisCanada) March 6, 2019
That setback clearly irked Andreescu, who came out of the traps flying in the second set as she claimed the first four games, breaking Begu twice consecutively, as the duo contested a string of hard-fought points. Her ruthlessness then shone through as she conceded just three games on her way to winning the set comfortably 6-3.
.@Bandreescu_ wins the second, 6-3, and a final set will decide who advances at the @BNPPARIBASOPEN! pic.twitter.com/RQTfDvhwGr
— wta (@WTA) March 6, 2019
The third set continued in the same vein as the previous two – it swung one way, then another. Begu gained the upper hand when she broke Andreescu’s serve in the third game but the Canadian bounced back to manufacture a break point of her own in the sixth. The youngster continued to pile on the pressure and her aggressive style saw her take hold of the match just at the right time.
A crucial break in the eighth game saw her take the lead, meaning she needed just to hold her serve to see out the match. Could she do it? Of course she could! Andreescu produced a series of powerful points to seal her victory, ensuring she will take on Cibulková in the second round in what will be the first ever meeting between the two players.
Comeback: Complete! 💥
Bianca Andreescu survives a stern test in the form of Irina-Camelia Begu, winning 6-7(3), 6-3, 6-3 to book a meeting with No. 32 seed Dominika Cibulkova in the second round of the #BNPPO19.
What grit, @Bandreescu_! #BiancaRising pic.twitter.com/kQQBHXVIW0
— Tennis Canada (@TennisCanada) March 7, 2019
Meanwhile, fellow Canadian Eugenie Bouchard was unable to make it past the first round of doubles action at Indian Wells. The 25-year-old and her partner, American Sloane Stephens, were beaten 6-1, 6-2 by Kirsten Flipkens and Johanna Larsson, meaning Bouchard won’t be able build on her first career doubles title win at the ASB Classic in New Zealand with Sofia Kenin.
(Feature photo: Mauricio Paiz)
