Despite falling behind by a break in each set, Bianca Andreescu was able to battle past Lauren Davis and book her spot in the third round of the 2021 US Open.
The sixth seed escaped with a 6-4 6-4 victory over her American opponent, although her erratic play left a lot to be desired. The Canadian hit 19 winners to 23 unforced errors, most of which came from the baseline as she struggled to develop a rhythm.
Furthermore, Andreescu had some difficulty with her serve, winning only 59% of points behind her first serve. This led to her being broken on four occasions, but fortunately Davis failed to capitalize as the World No.98 succumbed to her own barrage of errors.
With neither competitor looking very confident on the court, it was Andreescu who dialed up her intensity towards the end of each set. The 2019 champion relied on her ability to play well under pressure, and secured the vital breaks when it really mattered.
Growing up in a household where soccer was king, my earliest memories are filled with chants from packed stadiums and the rhythm of a ball being passed across neighborhood streets. But somewhere along the way, the quiet elegance and raw emotion of tennis pulled me in. What began as a curiosity became a lifelong passion; not just for the sport itself, but for the stories it tells: of grit, of heartbreak, of improbable comebacks and human resilience.
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