Round of 16: No. 17 Maria Sakkari (GRE) vs. No. 6 Bianca Andreescu (CAN)
Arthur Ashe Stadium — Night Session — Second Match
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2019 champion Bianca Andreescu will put her perfect 10-0 tournament record on the line on Labor Day in what is sure to be her stiffest test yet at the 2021 US Open: a Round-of-16 matchup with Greek sensation Maria Sakkari. They’ve faced each other just once, with Andreescu claiming a tight 7-6, 3-6, 7-6 victory at the Miami Open in March. “Bianca is one of the toughest players to play on the tour, and I’m prepared that it’s going to be a very, very tough match for both of us, because last time we played each other, it was very close,” said the 26-year-old Sakkari. “I’m just going to stick to what I’m doing well right now and stay with the same mindset, just keep believing in myself that I can go further in this tournament.”
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Since raising her maiden Slam trophy at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center two years ago, outmuscling Serena Williams in the final, Andreescu has spent more time off the court than she has on it, a host of injuries keeping her on the sidelines. She sat out all of 2020 due to a knee injury suffered at the WTA Finals in 2019, and has since experienced a foot injury, an abdominal strain, and even tested positive for COVID-19. Healthy again in New York, the sixth seed is again playing with confidence and rediscovering her versatility on the court. When she’s at her best, she’s changing the pace, and throwing in high balls, slices and dropshots to keep her opponents off-balance.
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“I think it’s going to be a great match,” said Andreescu, 21. “I’m super excited to play against her. We had a very, very tough match in Miami. I’m sure it’s going to be the same. It’s not going to be easy. I kind of know what to expect a little bit, but at the same time I want to go out there not really thinking too much and looking back at our previous match. I want to stay zoned in in the present moment, and whatever she brings my way, I’ll be ready. She’s very powerful. She serves very well. She moves well. She’s a fighter. But I’m also all those things, so it’s going to be good. I’m pumped.”
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One of the fittest forces on the WTA Tour, Sakkari owns eight Top-20 wins this season, including a 6-4, 6-3 dismissal of 10th seed Petra Kvitova in the third round. Into the Round of 16 for the second year in a row, she reached the semifinals at Roland Garros in June—her best showing at the majors. She’s contesting the US Open with a career-best ranking of No. 18.
Watch: Maria Sakkari vs. Petra Kvitova, Round 3 Highlights
