Feisty Canad ian teen set to gatecrash world stage
Colourful game, colourful language, Indian Wells champion
THE name Bianca Andreescu, while on the lips of every household in Ontario, will not yet resonate with the world at large, not to the extent of Naomi Osaka’s, whose Indian Wells feat the Canadian repeated this year, in winning her first Tour title.
To quote the brash 18-year-old: “It’s completely surreal, a year ago I’m floating around at No 152 and then here I am – the ff..ing Indian Wells champion, next to all these big names – am I allowed to say that?” she asked the press, who by this stage were immune to shocks at this tournament.
Yes, Bianca, pictured, being the first wild card winner in tournament history, overcoming nerves, arm and leg issues, to beat three times Major champion, Angelique Kerber, in three sets and now worth a cool million dollars, you can say what you like at this stage.
At least you talk up a storm, as well as creating one, which is never going to be Osaka’s forté.
And this feisty teenager – reminiscent of American collegian, Danielle Collins, giant slayer at the Australian Open – remains “in the zone”, at the Miami Open, coming from the brink of defeat ( a set and1-5 deficit) to triumph against Romanian, Camilia Begu, for the second time in two weeks, in the opening round.( Andreescu herself from Romania, although the Canadian Tennis Academy, currently churning out great potential – Shapolov, Raonic, etc won’t dwell on the Eastern origins of any of these.)
How long can this Cinderella Story continue? “Well I really believe anything is possible at my age,” ‘Cinderella’ declared, post that match.
And having scalped three ex-wimbledon champions in the desert, it’s not surprising, Andreescu is brimming with confidence.
However I’m quite sure Federer at the opposite side of the age spectrum could say exactly the same.
Meanwhile, after losing to Dominic Thiem in the Indian Wells final, probably attributed to Federer missing a backhand passing shot down the line on his own match point – he has to contend with a dangerous Miami line-up: Quite apart from another third round encounter with Stan
Wawrinka, he potentially faces sixth seed Kevin Anderson, Paris champion Karen Kachanov, 13th seed, Danil Medvedev and 2017 ATP Finals champion Grigor Dimitrov.
Djokovic, who is on the hunt, with added vengeance, after a premature desert defeat, for a seventh Miami title, has the easier draw, facing the likes of Tomas Berdych and Bernard Tomic.
Admittedly Berdych beat then World No 1 Federer nine years ago in Miami, but I can’t see the Czech posing too much of a threat to the current World No1. Thiem, who has now leapfrogged Federer to No3 in the world rankings, has Hurkacz, Nishikori and Kyrgios to wrestle with.
They are all on unfamiliar turf, playing in the new Hard Rock Stadium, after 30 years at Key Biscane – Djokovic being the clear favourite to win, especially as coach, Marian Vajda, notably absent in Indian Wells, is back in camp.
Nadal, having withdrawn from Miami with yet another knee injury procured in the desert, was having second thoughts about playing anyway, admitting he is unhappy with the change in venue and doubting whether it will have the same atmosphere. More alarming is the fact that Federer, in a frank interview with a ‘New Gen. Star’, alluded to his career “drawing to a close”...
The moral of that story is feast your eyes on these greats while you can, because into season 21, still fitter and less injury prone than most, each of these Masters events might well be the Swiss maestro’s last...