Zidansek dumps out sixth seed Andreescu in three set thriller at Roland Garros

Monday, 31 May 2021 at 16:40

Bianca Andreescu is out of the 2021 French Open at Roland Garros after being toppled by Tamara Zidansek 6-7(1), 7-6(2), 9-7 in a thrilling first round contest.

Andreescu, who has dealt with injury troubles as well as a lack of time on the clay due to testing positive for Covid-19 will not play any further part on her return to Paris for the first time since her 2019 breakout year.

It is a victory over the sixth seed which opens up the draw with Zidansek now playing Madison Brengle after the American saw off rising Colombian star, Maria Osorio Serrano.

The winner of that will face Veronika Kudermetova in Round Three if she gets past Katerina Siniakova.

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From the start, it wasn't smooth sailing for Andreescu as she led the opening set 3-0 but saved a set point holding for 5-5. Before she turned it around once more to ease through the tiebreak 7-1.

In the second set, Andreescu battled potentially for a match point on Zidansek's serve but the latter took the game with an ace to send it to 5-5.

A 40-15 break of serve threatened to derail Andreescu further who was looking to avoid a third set. She did for the time being with a double fault at 40-30 sealing yet another tie break at 6-6.

Andreescu went 3-0 down in the tie break and only a forehand from Zidansek into the net allowed the former into the tiebreak. But she gave away her serve with Zidansek serving for a 5-1 lead.

But Andreescu had the arrears cut to 4-2 on the change of ends. She was soon serving though to stay in the set and a beautiful cross court winner sealed it for the Slovenian who sent the fifth seed all the way.

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Both held serve in the early going with Zidansek leading 2-1 in the all important final set.

It began to go wrong for Andreescu on her serve as she went 40-0 down but she brought up deuce en route to holding herself for 2-2 sealing it with a superb ace.

This began to turn the tide but Zidansek held it together to make it 3-2 after Andreescu looked to force a break opportunity after going 30-15 up.

Holds continued with Zidansek holding a 4-3 lead with 52 unforced errors letting down Andreescu. But with the crowd firmly on her side, she claimed a break of serve and was suddenly serving for the match at 5-4 up.

Andreescu had an open court forehand at her mercy as she attempted to bring up match points and two more forehand errors allowed Zidansek back on serve and prolonged the tie.

With a fall for Andreescu, Zidansek went 6-5 up and on the verge with match point brought up.

But the Canadian fought and sealed a hold of serve just after the three hour mark to make it 6-6.

It was a comfortable hold for Zidansek though to make it 7-6 with no tiebreak in the final set. The same could be said for Andreescu as she tied it up at 7-7.

Two double faults in a row brought up break point though for Andreescu but Zidansek wouldn't lie down and hit a clutch forehand before saving another break point en route to 8-7.

This proved pivotal as Zidansek brought up match point again 40-15 up on Andreescu's serve. A forehand error into the net sealed the fate for Andreescu who heads out in the opening round.