Bianca Andreescu made her debut in the WTA finals this week. Her appearance in the competition was the culmination of a remarkable tennis season. The Canadian has won three WTA titles this year. Her most recent victory was at the US Open. However, despite her success this year, Bianca has also struggled with injuries. Unfortunately for the Canadian, her first appearance in the finals in Shenzhen has seen a reoccurrence of her injury issues.
Andreescu’s injury issues resurface
At the Miami Open this year, the Canadian suffered a shoulder injury which made her miss much of the clay and grass court seasons. She returned to the court in August and played at the Roger Cup. In the WTA finals, the 19-year-old has struggled with injuries in her first two matches. Andreescu played Simona Halep in her first match in Shenzhen. The match was a three-set thriller which Halep won. The Canadian struggled with a back injury during the match. She received some treatment on the court for the injury after the second set. She still lost the match in the deciding set.
Andreescu’s knee injury
Her second match against Karolina Pliskova also saw her get injured. Andreescu suffered a knee injury while returning a serve in the first set. The Canadian received medical attention on the sidelines, causing a long delay to the match. She returned to the court with her knee heavily strapped. While she played through the first set, she did not look comfortable. Andreescu retired after Pliskova won the set 6-3. Speaking after the match, Czech player said she had anticipated Andreescu’s injury issues before the match. “I was just ready that she was going to call physio because so far, I think she has been calling physio in every match.”
The world No.2 said she did not see how bad Andreescu’s injury was because she had focused on her serve before the incident. The 27-year-old had gone into the match determined to get a win and improve her chances of qualifying for the semifinals. While her victory came under sad circumstances, Pliskova was happy to get the win. She wished Bianca a quick recovery and hoped she would play in her remaining match in Shenzhen. The world number two will face Simon Halep in her next match for a spot in the semifinals. Andreescu cannot qualify for the semifinals after losing her first two matches. If she is healthy, she will face Elina Svitolina in her final match at the tournament.
Pliskova in Shenzhen, ranking, and results in 2019
Ranked no.2, the Czech has a 50-15 win-loss record in 2019. The Czech is currently having a run in Shenzhen where she bested Bianca Vanessa Andreescu before she withdrew.
The Czech will take on Halep in the Round Robin. The head to head is 7-3 for Halep.
The last time that they played, Pliskova won 7-5 6-1 in the semifinal in Miami on the 28th March 2019.
Pliskova clinched 4 titles in 2019 in Brisbane, in Rome, in Eastbourne and in Zhengzhou. The Czech was the finalist in Miami.
Pliskova won 15 titles in her career: 7 on hard courts, 3 on clay courts, 2 on indoor courts and 3 on grass courts. (See the list of her titles)
Bianca Vanessa Andreescu’s ranking and performance in 2019
Ranked no.4 (career-high), Andreescu played her last match on the 30th of October when she surrendered to Karolina Pliskova 6-3 ret. in the Round Robin in Shenzhen.
This year Bianca Vanessa has a 46-7 win-loss record. The Canadian clinched 4 titles in 2019 in the Newport Beach, in Indian Wells, in Toronto and at the U.S. Open. The Canadian was the finalist in Auckland.
Karolina Pliskova and Bianca Vanessa Andreescu played each other 2 times. The head to head is 1-1.
Bianca Vanessa Andreescu |
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