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Bianca Andreescu Indian Wells 2021
Tennis News, WTA Tennis Players

Bianca Andreescu title defence ends in the desert


Bianca Andreescu made her breakthrough by winning Indian Wells in 2019, but is now out of the 2021 event in the third round.

The Canadian came into the WTA 1000 tournament as 16th seed and claimed victory in her first match over Alison Riske of the US, 7-6 (7-2), 5-7, 6-2.

However, Andreescu then went out in the very next round to 18th seed Anett Kotaveit of Estonia in straight sets, 7-6 (7-5), 6-3.

“I think today I didn’t play my best,” Andreescu explained in her post-match press conference. “I didn’t feel my best. But, I have to deal with what I had.

“It obviously wasn’t enough, The conditions were a bit tough as well with the with and with the sun. Anett [Kontaveit], I honestly don’t think she played her best tennis either. But, you know, she was the better player today.”

Andreescu has now faced Kontaveit three times and lost on all three occasions. They first met at the 2019 Miami Open, where Andreescu was forced to retire in the second set.

Then, at Eastbourne earlier this season, Kontaveit won in straight sets 6-3, 6-3 over the Canadian.

“My mind’s all over the place with many different thoughts and opinions,” Andreescu added.

The 2019 US Open champion is unsure where her next steps will be on the WTA tour as the season edges towards its conclusion.

The 21-year-old has had a stop-start season in 2021, attaining a win-loss record of 17-11 to date as she sits at a ranking of world number 21.

Nine of those wins came before the end of April. Andreescu has an 8-9 record since then and has won back-to-back matches just twice in that period. Her best run of three match wins came at the US Open.


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