“It was really tight, ” Iga Swiatek reminisces about her encounter with Bianca Andreescu ahead of their upcoming clash in Italy
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Iga Swiatek and Bianca Andreescu
Iga Swiatek came through a tricky opening set to beat former world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka in the last 16 of the Italian Open and extend her winning streak to 25 matches. World No. 1 Swiatek rallied from 0-3 down to win 6-4 6-1 and reach the quarter-finals, where she will face Bianca Andreescu, who saw off Petra Martic 6-4 6-4.
The first time Iga Swiatek met Bianca Andreescu on the court it was a confidence builder. When the pair square off for the first time as pros in the Rome quarterfinals on Friday, Andreescu will try to play streak buster.
“She was playing really solid game at that time”- Iga Swiatek
Iga Swiatek, the reigning Rome champion, recalls her lone junior encounter against Andreescu as one that boosted her confidence. “I remember it was really tight. I remember it was Junior Fed Cup,” Swiatek said. “It was kind of a breakthrough match for me because after that we beat Canada, we played against Russia and States. It was the first match I actually felt that I can do it and I can win with anybody because she was also playing really solid game at that time. I remember I just was really proud of myself, yeah.”
Andreescu, 21, saved six of seven break points to defeat Petra Martic 6-4, 6-4 in one hour and 43 minutes. Andreescu, who beat 10th-seeded Emma Raducanu in an opening-round matchup of US Open winners, described the quarterfinal match as “a dream come true.” In her words, “I’m definitely very excited,” Andreescu told Tennis Channe afterwards. “I usually don’t look at the draw before I play, but my coach before the first round said who do you want to play? I said is it Iga? And they’re like no. And actually, my second guess was Emma because I wanted to play both of them so I guess both of my dreams are coming true so I’m very excited.”
Also Read: Iga Swiatek wins a thriller in Rome to pick her 25th consecutive Tour win
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Pritha Ghosh
(414 Articles Published)