Bianca Andreescu’s quest for a spot at the French Open came to a bittersweet conclusion after an intense battle on Wednesday.
In the second round of qualifying, Andreescu faced off against Japan’s Nao Hibino, ultimately losing with scores of 2-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4 after a gripping 2 hours and 31 minutes.
The Mississauga, Ontario native began strong, clinching the first set and even taking a 5-3 lead in the second. However, Hibino mounted a fierce comeback, turning the tide in her favor to secure the victory.
Having undergone appendicitis surgery that sidelined her at the start of the season, Andreescu made a stunning return in her initial qualifying match, winning with an impressive score of 6-0, 6-0. Currently, she holds the No. 102 ranking in the world.
Joining Andreescu in early exits were two other Canadians. Marina Stakusic, also from Mississauga, fell to Germany’s Tamara Korpatsch with a score of 6-2, 6-1. Meanwhile, Carson Branstine, whose mother hails from Toronto, was defeated by Switzerland’s Rebeka Masarova, finishing at 6-0, 6-3.
