Andreescu was serving to end the match in the second set, with the scoreboard showing 5-3 in her advantage. She crumpled to the court in pain after twisting her ankle during play. The stadium was filled with the unvarnished expression of the emotional weight of the moment: a howl of frustration. But with the audience holding their breath and the trainer running to her side, she got back up, defiant, and defeated her opponent 6-3, 6-4.
Andreescu’s emotions overflowed when the last point was scored. The scream of the Montreal audience, a tidal wave of support that had carried her through the storm, filled her eyes with tears of joy and pride. Her body cried out for her to give up, but their cheers and cries kept her locked in. She expressed her sincere gratitude to the fans in her heartfelt post-match speech. She claimed that their enthusiasm was crucial to her performance and that it saved her during her lowest point on the court.
Andreescu’s career has been marred by injuries in recent years, including a lengthy break after a competition in October of last year. She has battled her way to a decent 12-8 record since making a comeback in April, bringing her ranking back inside the top 200. All eyes are on her now that a second-round bout is approaching; can her body hold up, or will this hometown hero overcome the odds once more? There is no doubt that Bianca Andreescu is far from done if heart and grit are involved.
