US Open champion and teenage sensation Bianca Andreescu has continued her sparkling form in Beijing overcoming Aliaksandra Sasnovich in three sets in what was her first match since winning her maiden Grand Slam last month. She comes up against another foe Elise Mertens whom she took down on her way to glory in New York last month. The pair clash in the China Open Round of 16 in Beijing for a place in the last eight.
After overcoming Sasnovich, Andreescu booked her place in the top eight-player field for the WTA Finals in Shenzhen at the end of the season. The Canadian star has remained unbeaten since the beginning of March but there is a lot of tennis to be played until the end of the season and Andreescu will be determined to extend her winning run for as long as possible.
Bianca started the year outside the top 100 but the teenager struggles with injuries didn’t deter her and she secured her maiden title at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells. Injuries disrupted her season, missing the clay and grass season before returning to winning the Rogers Cup and her maiden Slam.
On the other end of the court, Elise Mertens will be seeking revenge for her quarter final defeat to the eventual winner in this Round of 16 clash. The Belgian played well at the Arthur Ashe Stadium and she is capable of big moments. Mertens is a Grand Slam semi-finalist, she made it to the 2018 Australian Open last four and won the Qatar Open earlier this year beating the likes of Kiki Bertens, Angelique Kerber and Simona Halep on the way.
Mertens steady game can cause any opponent problems on her day but does she have enough in her to unsettle a confident Andreescu? Bianca has found her range and rhythm; her decision making in the type of game needed for every occasion means she will be considered favorites for any match until someone proves otherwise.
Goodluck ladies!