OMNIUM BANQUE NATIONALE

August 12, 2021

Bianca Andreescu

Press Conference

O. JABEUR/B. Andreescu

6-7, 6-4, 6-1

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Give us your thoughts on today's match.

BIANCA ANDREESCU: I don't really know what to say. I'm super disappointed in how I played, but at the same time Ons played super well. I tried to play my best with what I had today. She was kind of disrupting my rhythm a little bit.

The whole toe situation didn't help at all. I wish my serve was a bit better today. She definitely took advantage of that. And, yeah...

Q. Can you give us an update on the toe, how it's feeling, and how much that affected things for you in the third set. Did you ever consider retiring from the match?

BIANCA ANDREESCU: I'm sick and tired of retiring. Yeah, for sure I could have, but I did not want to tonight. It's super bruised. It hurt on a lot of shots. I try not to show it. She also took advantage of that. She was just playing lights out in the third set. Didn't give me anything to really feed off of.

Yeah, I hope my toe's going to be good for my next tournaments.

Q. You said Ons was disrupting your rhythm. Can you explain what she was doing that disrupted you.

BIANCA ANDREESCU: Well, she's the type of player that likes to slice, dropshot, all that. Some games she'd be super on, then other games she'd miss like four in a row. There wasn't a lot of rallies or rhythm. For example, in my first-round match, there were more rallies, consistency. And, yeah, that was basically the whole rhythm thing.

Q. How tough was it to deal with the stops and starts? In the second set at 3-All there was another rain delay. At that point you had just broken back, had the momentum. Was it tough?

BIANCA ANDREESCU: These are things we have to deal with, so I tried to deal with it in the best way that I can. I don't like it. Even if I'm down or if I'm up, I don't like the disruptive rhythm at all.

For me, I think the main thing was to stay active during that break. I think it helped me a little bit. But then like the whole toe situation happened. It's just super disappointing because, like, there's always something, and I don't know. I don't understand.

Q. Mentally what's your best method to try to put a loss like this behind you?

BIANCA ANDREESCU: I first have to realize it's just a game of tennis. I'm only 21. Yeah, I won this tournament before. I know I could have won this tournament again. But sometimes shit happens and you basically have to move on. That's life.

Like I'm healthy. Yeah, this whole toe situation is whatever, but at least like I didn't sprain an ankle or anything like that. I just want to look at the positive. It's really hard now 'cause I haven't been playing much this year, haven't been winning as much as I wanted to this year. There's just so many things that are happening that's super sad.

I know that I'm going to bounce back.

Q. You had some medical help between the first and second set. How bad was the toe during the first set? Did it bother you or did it become worse as the match was going on?

BIANCA ANDREESCU: Well, it started a couple of days ago actually, but it got worse during the match. There was more sliding. She was making me move more. It obviously made it worse.

But, yeah, I totally forgot about the first set one. That's another toe. So we had two toe situations happening. But the one in the first set wasn't as bad as the one in the second set.

Q. We can hear by your tone of voice that you're getting fed up, tired with all the bad luck moments. How can you cope with that?

BIANCA ANDREESCU: Well, it kind of sucks that I have to do these press conferences after a loss like that 'cause I'm just in the worst frigging mood ever. I honestly don't want to talk to anybody, answer these questions. No offense to anyone.

Like I'm trying to stay positive here right now. I know tomorrow's another day. I'll be fine hopefully. But right now, like, I'm so pissed, I could cry a river.

Q. Ons said you had a nice word for her at the net. What stood out about her game, what's her potential? Do you see her going on in this tournament?

BIANCA ANDREESCU: She's been having an incredible season and I think she can win the tournament for sure if she plays like she did today and even yesterday. Yeah, I think she can win the tournament.

I told her she has to win the tournament now (laughter).

Q. She better go on, eh?

BIANCA ANDREESCU: Yeah (laughter).

Q. How do you feel the lack of match play contributes to kind of a result like this?

BIANCA ANDREESCU: Yeah, I mean, if you count 2020 as well, yeah, there's like no comparison. I know in 2019 I was out because of injuries, too. I'd come back, like, without any matches, I'd do well. I think this is a whole other ballgame because I feel like there were way more stop and go's.

Honestly, like, I just have to move on. Thank God there's another tournament next week. We have so many tournaments that we can play, just bounce back in. That's the beauty of tennis. That's the goal now. Hopefully everything will be good with my toes and I can play Cincy.

Q. Was it strange playing on Canadian soil and having so much support for your opponent? Did that add to the electricity or negate a home-court advantage?

BIANCA ANDREESCU: Maybe a little bit. I know my fans were there, but I think Ons' fans were a bit more there than mine. But, I mean, that's nothing I can control.

Yeah, I hope that's going to help her win the tournament now.