Interview Andreescu: ‘I ask the grass to help me win’

Bianca Andreescu was the sensation of women’s tennis a few years ago. The US Open title is on her record. Today on her 24th birthday, she can book (only) the fourth tournament victory of her career. Injuries bothered her for a while, but she is now all the way back.

If someone had told you a month ago that you would reach the final in your second tournament after your comeback, how would you have reacted?
‘Don’t be silly, man! That’s what I would have said, haha. Of course I know how high my level can be, but you can’t assume it will always come. So I had signed up for it straight away.’

You played a resounding quarter-final this week against another Grand Slam champion, Naomi Osaka. You must be proud to have kept the level up.
‘Definitely. That match felt like a final. You also want to be able to pause and appreciate that match. But I had to keep going, while the adrenaline was still coursing through my body. I could barely sleep that night and had to recover for a day.’

Two years ago, you were last in a final. Then, too, it was on grass. Is it a coincidence that you are peaking again on this surface?
‘I think there is an explanation. Last year I also did extremely well at Wimbledon, although I lost to Ons Jabeur, who later made the final. My game is starting to click better and better with this court type. I love hard court with all my heart, but grass is starting to come awfully close as a favourite surface.’

The average tennis player has never played on a grass court. Can you explain what the key to good grass tennis is for you?
‘The serve, return and first hits are super important. Whoever grabs the initiative early in a point has the best papers. Toiling like on gravel doesn’t make much sense.’

Few players can play as varied as you, with your razor-sharp forehand slice being unique. What is the art of that stroke?
‘I don’t even practice on it! It comes naturally and that’s wonderful. Yet I use it consciously and one hundred per cent tactically. Especially on grass, it serves me wonderfully. I had stopped using it for a few years, but now I have reintroduced it to my arsenal and I’m never letting it go. The trick is to go all the way. Holding back is disastrous. You have to shovel fiercely under the ball with a loose arm.’

At the beginning of the week, you mentioned that you are in constant conversation with the grass. What will the conversation be about before you step onto the court for the final?
‘I will ask the grass to help me win and save me bad bumps, haha. Usually these things come out when I say it out loud. I focus purely on positive things and at the end of the day, it’s just a tennis match. I keep trying to remind myself that it’s not the end of the world if you lose. But still, just to be on the safe side, one more time out loud: “Grass, I love you!”‘