Canadian Andreescu advances, wowing competition
She can win, says Flipkens; fellow Canuck Shapovalov follows suit at U.S. Open
NEW YORK — Add Kirsten Flipkens to the growing chorus of people who think Canadian Bianca Andreescu can win the 2019 U.S. Open.
The 33-year-old Belgian said it before their second-round tennis match Thursday.
And, after Andreescu defeated her, 6-3, 7-5, to reach the third round of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time in her young career, the veteran even told her so at the net.
“I told her that it was a good match, and that I think she can win this tournament, so she should believe in her abilities,” Flipkens said. “It’s clear. If you win Indian Wells and Toronto, you’re a favourite. They’re tournaments with almost the same status as a Grand Slam.”
Denis Shapovalov, who followed Andreescu onto Court No. 5 and inherited a strong contingent of Canadian supporters, followed her lead and also advanced to the third round with a 6-4, 7-6 (2), 6-2 victory over Henri Laaksonen of Switzerland.
Shapovalov will face No. 13 seed Gaël Monfils on Saturday, after Monfils defeated Marius Copil of Romania in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2.
Andreescu played more consistent tennis than she did in her first-round victory over American wild card Katie Volynets. And she needed to keep her cool, with Flipkens’s game style including changing the pace and depth of her shots to upset the opponent’s rhythm.
Typically, Andreescu is the one trying to do that. But on this day, the tables were turned.
“Flipkens is a tricky opponent to play. I’m just really happy with how I managed to deal with what she gave me and with my composure out there,” Andreescu said. “There aren’t many girls out there that like to come to the net as much as she does, so I tried my best to handle that as best as I
could. I think I did a really good job with that today.”
Flipkens isn’t in the habit of pumping up her opponent after she loses. But she’s a canny judge of talent.
Two years ago in the qualifying at the big tournament in Cincinnati, the Belgian was beaten, 6-1, 6-0, by a young Australian player just returning to action after a sabbatical. Flipkens recalled thinking she didn’t play badly, and wasn’t even disappointed.
“I knew I was not just losing to a qualifier. I knew this kid had something special,” Flipkens wrote on Twitter after Ashleigh Barty won the French Open in June and became world No. 1. “After that match, I said, ‘This kiddo will be top 10 in less than a year, if this is her usual level.’”
Andreescu got a little flustered during her news conference when she was asked a question about being up to No. 9 in the live rankings. “You’re kidding me. Really? Close? Wow, no, I don’t really — OK. Give me a sec,” she said. “No, I don’t usually check.”