ASTANA, Kazakhstan — Bianca Andreescu shined in her much-anticipated comeback for Canada, clinching a vital singles victory against Kazakhstan on the first day of a thrilling two-day Billie Jean King Cup qualifier.
The talented player from Mississauga, Ont., triumphed over Sonja Zhiyenbayeva with a score of 6-4, 7-6 (4), securing Canada’s only point on Friday.
At just 25 years old, Andreescu was competing in her first Billie Jean King Cup tie since 2022, having battled through a series of injuries.
The 2019 U.S. Open champion showcased her resilience by erasing a 0-4 deficit in the second-set tiebreak, winning seven consecutive points to dominate the match against Zhiyenbayeva, who is currently ranked 1,023rd in the world, on the indoor clay.
“It was definitely a challenging match, but nothing unexpected at this level,” stated Andreescu, who is ranked 130th. “I anticipate every player to come prepared, so I focused on maintaining my consistency throughout. With the crowd supporting Kazakhstan, it may have fueled her in certain moments.”
“But I’m thrilled to have delivered such a high level of tennis today and absolutely delighted to secure the win.”
Earlier in the day, world No. 74 Yulia Putintseva overcame Kayla Cross from London, Ont., with a score of 6-3, 7-5, giving Kazakhstan an early advantage.
Cross, ranked 198th, made a valiant effort, fighting back from a 5-1 deficit in the second set and saving four match points to bring the score to 5-5. However, Putintseva regained control, breaking decisively in the 12th game.
“When I was down 5-1, the support from my team really spurred me on to keep pushing, taking it one point at a time,” Cross reflected. “It would’ve been great to claim that second set, but I’m proud of my fighting spirit.”
The best-of-five tie stands at 1-1 as they head into Saturday’s matches, with the winner advancing to the Billie Jean King Cup finals in Shenzhen, China, this September.
