PARIS | When she arrived in the French capital, Bianca Andreescu dreamed of playing in the Roland-Garros final, but little did she know it would be the mixed doubles final.
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Still, the Canadian managed to take part in the last match with New Zealand’s Michael Venus, but without being able to secure a second Grand Slam title, after the singles at the United States Open 2019.
The duo lost in a super break on Thursday on Center Court Philippe-Chatrier 4: 6, 6: 4 and 10: 6 against the pair consisting of the Japanese Miyu Kato and the German Tim Puetz.
“It was my first doubles final and I didn’t expect that,” Andreescu admitted in front of the audience at the end of the game, adding in a press conference that she was still a little disappointed with the outcome. Game.
Thank you coach
Over the course of the two weeks, chemistry quickly developed between the 22-year-old Ontario native and the 35-year-old veteran. You can give a big shout out to Christophe Lambert, Bianca’s current coach, who has mentored Venus before, particularly when he won bronze in men’s doubles at the Tokyo 2021 Olympics.
It was Lambert who came up with the idea of bringing them together to work with Venus again but also to let Andreescu play some games after suffering an ankle injury at the end of March.
“She sees things very well on the pitch,” Venus noted. We collect ideas. We ask ourselves what we see, how best to move on and how to maximize our strengths. We work as a team.”
Two ex-champions at the Porte d’Auteuil
In addition, the experience of the family man was beneficial for the 42nd player in the world. Venus already triumphed in men’s doubles at Roland-Garros in 2017, while Bianca took top honors in girls’ doubles with Carson Branstine. The following year, the New Zealander was a finalist at Wimbledon, as well as at the 2017 and 2018 US Opens in mixed doubles.
“I’m learning a lot from him, from his different tactics, I’m learning what I can do at the net but also at the back of the field.” Those are things I’ve never learned before. He’s also open, he lets me try new things and sometimes even take the lead,” said Bianca.
“If we play together again maybe she should serve first because she wasn’t broken.” [jeudi]while I do!” Venus remarked, laughing.
Together at Wimbledon?
Venus would be keen to work with the Canadian again and he will “stay on his phone waiting for her call” for next month’s Wimbledon.
“It’s all on my shoulders!” Andreescu replied.
In fact, Bianca will decide whether to continue the mixed doubles adventure. Her priority is of course singles, but if she had to play mixed again, it would be with him.
“We had fun and we want to play together again,” she told reporters, adding that they “hadn’t talked about Wimbledon yet.”
A balm
Regardless, the Mississauga native has done a lot of good in mixed doubles. She appeared in the French capital after losing her two preseason games on clay. And after excelling in the first two solo rounds on the Paris Ocher, Andreescu was clearly beaten by Ukraine’s Lesia Tsurenko, 6-1 in two identical sets.
“It was really fun in doubles, I needed it,” she admitted. It’s different than having someone by your side who offers you personally constructive criticism. I think I’ll take a lot of positives out of this partnership this week.”