Bianca Andreescu’s quest for a second quarter-final in Rome ended a round short after losing to world No. 8 Qinwen Zheng at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia on Monday.
After two straight Top 20 wins, Andreescu fell short of her first Top 10 victory since the Toray Pan Pacific Open last fall, losing 7-5, 6-1.
The Canadian No. 3 was under immense pressure on serve, facing a handful of break points throughout the match. After breaking three times in the opening set, the 24-year-old was on the wrong end of three breaks in the second as her run in Rome came to an end.
Andreescu had little answer to the Chinese No. 1’s serve early on. Zheng won her opening six first serve points.
At 15-40 in the second game, Andreescu was able to rally to force deuce. However, the world No. 121 dropped the ensuing two points by hitting a pair of shots into the net as Zheng recorded the early break.
The Canadian found herself in another hole in the fourth game and Zheng powered a forehand return at love-30 that Andreescu was unable to handle. Once again, the Canadian battled back and this time, she won the next five points to hold.
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At 3-1, Zheng began to struggle on serve. The 22-year-old double faulted at 40-30 before following that up with another double fault to give Andreescu her first break point of the afternoon. The 2019 U.S. Open champion capitalized to go a game back of Zheng.
After the world No. 8 broke back, Andreescu held yet another love-30 advantage in the seventh game.
Double faults continued to haunt the reigning Olympic gold medalist, recording another to hand Andreescu three break points. After saving two, Zheng committed her fifth double fault in her last two service games to give the world No. 121 the break back.
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Andreescu followed that up with a love game to level the set at 4-4.
Just when Zheng looked to have found her groove on serve again at 30-love, the Canadian won four-straight points to break and serve for the set.
However, after saving two break points, third time wasn’t a charm for Andreescu as Zheng kept the set alive.
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The Chinese No. 1 held and got out to a commanding love-40 advantage in the twelfth game. Andreescu saved a pair of break points but hit her backhand into the net on the third, dropping the opening set. It was the seventh break of the first set.
The start to the second set was a carbon copy of the first with Zheng converting on an early break point to go up 3-0.
The world No. 8 then extended her second set lead in the fourth game but Andreescu managed a vital break back to stay within reach.
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Looking to get within two games, the Canadian No. 3 led 30-love in the ensuing game but lost three straight points as she faced her 15th break point of the match. Andreescu hit her backhand into the net after a lengthy rally, allowing Zheng to serve for the match.
At 40-30, the 22-year-old powered a forehand that Andreescu couldn’t handle to finish off the second set in just about half an hour.
Zheng’s win is her second in two meetings against the Mississauga-native, the first coming at the National Bank Open in 2022.
Feature Photo : Martin Sidorjak
