Bianca Andreescu romps to first top 10 win since 2019 US Open triumph
Bianca Andreescu has cruised past 2022 Australian Open finalist Danielle Collins to claim a first top 10 win for over two and a half years.
She defeated the American world number eight convincingly 6-1, 6-1 to advance to the third round of the Madrid Open.
The match was just a third for Andreescu in 2022 after taking an extended break from the sport after last year’s Indian Wells in October.
She said in her on-court interview: “I’ve watched the [Madrid] finals of the past couple of years and now I’m picturing myself [there] hopefully!
“Maybe not this year, who knows, but I’m very happy.”
As mentioned, this was Andreescu’s first victory over a top 10 opponent since she defeated then world number eight Serena Williams in the final of the 2019 US Open.
The Canadian revealed that statistic aligned with her feelings on how she played during the match with Collins.
She said: “This was definitely my best performance since I came back and probably in a really long time.
“I’ve been working really hard and it’s really showing so I’m very pleased.”
The former top 10 star returned at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix last month, revealing ahead of her comeback that she had considered quitting the sport during her time away.
Currently ranked 111th in the world, Andreescu’s first round victory in Madrid had already seen her into the top 100 in the live rankings.
Now, the 21-year-old will be ranked at least 90th after the WTA 1000 event thanks to her progression to the third round.
She faces either Kaia Kanepi or 12th seed Jessica Pegula next for a place in the quarter-finals.
Collins’ exit means half of the 10 highest seeds in Madrid have already gone out of the women’s draw before the second round has even been completed.
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