NATIONAL BANK OPEN

August 9, 2022

Bianca Andreescu

Press Conference

B. ANDREESCU/D. Kasatkina

7-6, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Do you want to just start off by sharing some thoughts on the match?

BIANCA ANDREESCU: Yeah. Well if anybody's asking I'm feeling much better. It has nothing to do with my back. I felt really dizzy. I have no idea what it was.

Maybe something that I ate or all the stress leading up to the tournament. I have no idea.

But I feel better and I'm super happy that I was able to clutch it out. I wish my attitude was a bit better, but I really did everything I could with what I had.

THE MODERATOR: Questions?

Q. You've been so busy the past few days doing so many kids' clinics and activities, sponsorship things around the grounds, which is totally understandable, given your position in Canadian tennis. But you did just mention the stress leading up to your first match out there. Did you feel quite a bit in the lead-up to the tournament? Because you seem so relaxed and at ease the last few days. Can you elaborate on that a little bit?

BIANCA ANDREESCU: Yeah, it was quite a bit, but I was feeling pretty good doing all of that. It's definitely new. I haven't had so many commitments to do.

But no, I felt good. Even last night. I felt good today leading up to the match. Yeah, I just, I hope everything will be okay for tomorrow. I'm sure it will.

Q. I know you talked about Serena's upcoming retirement on the radio this morning. You two are forever linked. You beat her here to win the National Bank Open and then in New York at the US Open. I'm just curious how special that is, given that so many younger players of your generation may never get the chance to play Serena and know what that's like to play her on the grandest stages in tennis.

BIANCA ANDREESCU: Yeah, I feel honored to have gotten that opportunity to play her and even connect with her in some way.

Yeah, I heard that when I was doing a radio interview this morning. I was absolutely shocked. Because I just woke up and I get that and I'm like, What?

Because you know that at one point she's going to retire. But when she actually, you know, is going to announce it, it's just shocking. Because you think these kind of players will play forever. I mean I think she's 40 now?

But she's done so much for the sport, for women's tennis. I think right now she said she's focusing on a new chapter in her life. So I'm happy for her.

Q. You spoke after the match about bringing back that 2019 energy. I guess in some ways if any like how is that energy changed three years later now that you're the player that everyone's coming to see tonight?

BIANCA ANDREESCU: Yeah, the crowd was so crazy. I wish I was able to enjoy it just a little bit more, considering what I was going through.

But if it wasn't for them I don't think I would have pulled through. Because they really gave me a lot of positive energy.

When I said I'm bringing 2019 energy back it's more that have fearless, like no pressure, like just going for it. I think I did that tonight. So let's keep it going.

Q. Because you've played Serena twice in big tournaments in 2019 do you guys have any kind of a special friendship or relationship at all?

BIANCA ANDREESCU: I mean maybe not, but she did come up to me after the US Open match and she said some very kind words.

Like I said before, that's kind of like how we connected. And even after the Rogers Cup match we had a nice conversation going.

Hopefully I can build a relationship with her and maybe get some tips of how she manages to kill it on tour at one point.

But, yeah, I'm just so shocked that she's retiring, honestly. I'm going to miss watching her play.

Q. What has she done for the game of tennis for young women?

BIANCA ANDREESCU: Oh, man. She has done a lot. She has, first of all she's accomplished a lot. So that's an inspiration for so many.

She's not afraid to be herself and to show all her emotions on the court, off the court, what she stands for. I know she's doing a lot of things off the court as well to help inspire. It's incredible.

I hope that I can achieve maybe half of what she achieved and continue on her legacy in some way.

Q. On the match tonight, setting aside how you're feeling, attitude, all that, but just game-wise what were you pleased with today? Was this kind of the tennis that you were hoping to be able to play last week before you jammed your back? What exactly worked well for you tonight that you were most pleased with?

BIANCA ANDREESCU: I was very happy with how relaxed I was. I mean at one point I had no choice but to be relaxed.

But even like during the time where I was feeling good I was just, I was like super relaxed, just doing my thing.

And with her that's kind of what you have to do. And that's what I did the last two times I played her was just staying as relaxed as I can.

Obviously being consistent but also aggressive because you don't always want to get into those long rallies with her. I mean she loves that.

And then just changing up with my drop shot. I feel like I brought it out more today than this whole past like four months. So I'm very happy with that.

Q. I was just wondering if at one point during the match you thought of just leaving, quitting.

BIANCA ANDREESCU: No. I did not want to at all. There was one moment though where I was a bit afraid that I couldn't. But it's not like I had that thought in my head where like I wanted to quit.

I just, I really couldn't today. Like something came upon me, even though I was feeling absolute crap, especially during the tiebreaker. Yeah, I hit a shot and I was just like, I was seeing double almost. So that was kind of like the point where I didn't feel the best.

But the crowd, I mean if it wasn't for the crowd, I'm going to say it again, they really pushed me to continue. And it just shows that fighting spirit that I still have in me. I just, I want to continue building on that.

Q. Can I ask you your thoughts on your next match against Alize Cornet?

BIANCA ANDREESCU: Okay, I didn't know I'm playing her. Thank you. I had to know one way or another.

Well I played her twice already. Got my ass whooped. So I mean she is a player that is super consistent. She runs to everything. So I guess it's good that I had a match against Daria today, because she's kind of like that too. Good preparation for that match.

She's a fighter. I mean I think she's the one that stopped Iga's streak, right? So she's definitely on a roll.

But I'm looking forward to it and hopefully I can get my revenge.

Q. Not to dwell on how bad you felt there, but you mentioned it might have been something you ate. I'm just wondering what did you eat and will you be avoiding that tomorrow?

BIANCA ANDREESCU: Oh, my gosh, for sure, for sure. But it's something that I always eat. It was gluten-free pasta, chicken, some pesto sauce and like some vegetables and tomatoes. So maybe it's not that. I mean I'm putting everything into consideration.

Or maybe I ate too much, I have no idea. But I'm definitely staying away from that (laughing).

Q. Was it from the lounge upstairs?

BIANCA ANDREESCU: Maybe. But I really don't think it was. I really don't think it was. I think it's just all the stress and build-up and everything.

Q. I wanted to know, considering your performance, it was a lengthy two-set match, but how much confidence does this type of match give you going into the next round where you've shown that you're able to like fight through and be able to push through many lengthy exchanges. And also just, you spoke on, I think it was a couple months ago, how you really wanted to do well in this tournament. How much does that help you going forward?

BIANCA ANDREESCU: Definitely. I mean a win is a win no matter how you pull it off. Today it really showed me a lot about myself and how I can push through these things if I really want it. It definitely gives me confidence for the next match.

Like I said before, Alize kind of plays like Daria a little bit in a way, more consistent and all that. So having this match under my belt and going into tomorrow against Alize it definitely brings me confidence.

Q. Tomorrow you'll play after Serena against Belinda.

BIANCA ANDREESCU: Oh, cool matchup.

Q. How special do you think tomorrow night will be? And I think ticket sales are through the roof. And also just how impactful do you think having a night with you and Serena playing back-to-back for the Canadian audience is going to be for this event?

BIANCA ANDREESCU: Yeah, I don't know if they're there to see Serena or me. But either way having that, having, playing after Serena is always cool. Hopefully I can get some crowd from Serena's match coming to my match.

Yeah, I'll definitely be watching. I know that's an interesting matchup. I remember one of my first memories is watching Belinda play Serena in the finals here. And Belinda, what she did was like super incredible. It was very inspiring for me.

Actually, I told my mom, I'm going to do that one day. And then, funny enough, I played her in the finals out of everyone. Oh, hey, I know you. What's up? But, yeah, that's, yeah. I'm excited.

Hopefully I get to play her again though, Serena. That would be cool. That would be really cool.

Q. I wanted to ask you, you said that your opponent today was consistent. What do you need to do specifically moving forward to be just as consistent if not more?

BIANCA ANDREESCU: You mean with how I'm playing? Yeah. I think this match, because the last four months I was focusing a lot on building my aggressive game.

But this match is kind of like a good overall game style that I want to have in my piggybank, per se. I want to have that aggression and that relaxation and being able to play someone as consistent as that.

Because, I mean she feeds off of other players' unforced errors. So this was definitely a good match for that.

It's not the easiest on the body, but sometimes you got to do what you got to do.

Q. I just wanted to get you to elaborate a little bit on when you say that you wanted your attitude to be better. Because on the one hand you were battling and obviously legitimately fighting through something. And then on the other hand there was a moment where you heard, I think you were answering your mom, I am, I am. So what do you mean about your attitude?

BIANCA ANDREESCU: And she was saying, Eat a banana. I think I ate like three during the match. Like, Shut up, mom.

Damn it. Yeah, I mean like I was dealing with this back thing. Thankfully it didn't bother me. It was just so unfortunate I was feeling the way I was feeling.

I don't want to dwell too much on it and like sound so dramatic. Even though I might have looked dramatic I was trying my hardest not to show it. But it was super difficult.

When I said I wish my attitude was better, that's also I wish I didn't feel like crap. Because like I said, I tried my best to not show it. But, yeah. Yeah. Does that answer your question?

Q. You and Leylah Annie Fernandez are the last two Canadians left in singles in the draw here. Are you excited at the prospect of what the two of you can accomplish together in the years to come for Canada on the international stage and how you feel you would fare against the best nations in the world in Billie Jean King Cup?

BIANCA ANDREESCU: Um-hum. I have dreamt of me and Leylah and whoever else is on the team lift up that Billie Jean King Cup. Because I'm sure that we can do, we can continue to do great things for the sport.

She's killing the game. And to me it's an inspiration as well. Just to have more Canadians out there.

I had some encounters with some young kids again saying they picked up a tennis racquet because of me and Leylah. And that just, that makes my heart so full. And hopefully we can continue to do that and grow the sport.

Q. When you were watching the Serena/Belinda match were you in stadium or were you at home?

BIANCA ANDREESCU: No, I was in the stadium.

Q. You were upper deck, middle, lower?

BIANCA ANDREESCU: I was in a suite, actually. (Laughing) Great view. Great view. Yeah.