By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Saturday September 4, 2021
Make it a perfect 10 for Bianca Andreescu in New York. The Canadian notches another straight-sets win to reach the round of 16.
Photo Source: Getty
Bianca Andreescu was in deep trouble at times during her first-set battle with Viktorija Golubic, but after overcoming the adversity faced in that epic struggle she has hit her stride and put up back-to-back dominant performance in round two and three.
In other words: Bianca title watch is on in New York.
The No.6-seeded 21-year-old ran roughshod over Belgian lucky loser Greet Minnen on Day 6, notching a comfortable 6-1, 6-2 triumph to book a round of 16 matchup with Maria Sakkari of Greece.
“I think I played really well today,” Andreescu told reporters. “This is what I have been working towards in practice, and I'm very pleased with my return games, with my service games, with my movement on court, also with my attitude. So I'm very happy to be past week one.”
Andreescu, who began working with coach Sven Groeneveld after Wimbledon, has talked at considerable length about her decision to focus on simplifying her game in New York. She has tipped the scales slightly more towards her power game in New York, eschewing her world-class variety some.
She talked about it again on Saturday.
“What I'm working on then is developing that, continuing to develop that, but at the same time, I feel like my mind can be all over the place sometimes, and so having, like, three, four things to work on and to focus on during practice, during a match, has really been helping me stay focused throughout the whole thing, from A to Z,” she said. “Yeah, it's going well, so I'm not going to change anything.”
The tactics may be slightly different than they were in 2019, but the desire is the same: Win, win, win.
“So far I'm loving it,” Andreescu said of her second career appearance at the US Open. “I hope that it can continue like this the whole way and I can be 14-0 at the US Open. That's my goal.”
A Sakkari Reprisal in the Round of 16
Back in April, Andreescu and Sakkari played an epic three-setter in Miami that was won by the Canadian in a third-set breaker, from 4-2 down in the third. It was a grueling battle that led to Andreescu having to pull out of the final against Ash Barty.
“I think it's going to be a great match,” Andreescu said. “I'm super excited to play against her. Yeah, we had a very, very tough match in Miami. I'm sure it's going to be the same. It's not going to be easy.
“You know, I kind of know what to expect a little bit, but at the same time I want to go out there not really thinking too much and looking back at our previous match. I want to stay zoned in in the present moment, and whatever she brings my way, I'll be ready.”