Bianca Andreescu fails to find that old magic as she bows out of Wimbledon following 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 loss by Ons Jabeur
She was a teenager when she won her one and only Grand Slam to date at the US Open. She has since struggled to replicate the magic of that night in New York while grappling with her sudden ascent to superstardom, injuries holding her back.
Sound familiar? You may think we are talking about Emma Raducanu but instead, we are discussing her kindred spirit, Bianca Andreescu. The Canadian’s story is strikingly similar to the Brit’s, to the extent that both share Romanian heritage and were born around Toronto.
Raducanu is not at Wimbledon as she recovers from wrist and ankle surgeries, but Andreescu is. Or rather she was, until her 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 loss to Ons Jabeur on Centre Court yesterday.
The 2019 US Open champion knew she would be up against it. Jabeur is a 2022 Wimbledon finalist. She is ranked sixth in the world. She is a fan favourite, known as the ‘Minister of Happiness’ in Tunisia. Now she is in the fourth round at Andreescu’s expense.
For Jabeur, this was her first return to Centre Court since last year’s final and she believes she can win Wimbledon this time around.
Bianca Andreescu (pictured) was beaten by Ons Jabeur at Wimbledon today 3-6, 6-3, 6-4
She walked off the court waving to fans but failed to recover the excellent form that saw her win the US Open as a teenager in 2019
Jabeur meanwhile will advance to the fourth round of the women’s singles championship and will play against Petra Kvitova
‘It was very emotional coming back here,’ she said. ‘I’ve got to thank the rain a little for letting me speak to my coach. I’m playing against a Grand Slam champion, an amazing athlete and she made it tough.’
Unlike Raducanu, Andreescu benefited from some success on the tour prior to winning the US Open at 19. She had won WTA titles at Indian Wells and Toronto and was ranked 15th in the world when she beat Serena Williams in straight sets.
Like Raducanu, Andreescu will continue to search for that second Grand Slam title. But it will not come at SW19 this year.
