‘It would make me play better!’ Bianca Andreescu on celebrities, McSteamy, and feeling old
The Canadian had plenty to say in a cheery press conference after she got her French Open campaign started
Canada’s Bianca Andreescu in action during her first round match against Belarus’ Victoria Azarenka (AI/Reuters/Panoramic)
Bianca Andreescu was on buoyant form after beating fellow Grand Slam champion Victoria Azarenka in the first round at Roland-Garros 2-6, 6-3, 6-4.
“I had a three-setter again, so I’ll say this counts as two matches!” she laughed in her post-match press conference.
After suffering with injury and taking a break for her mental health, the Canadian is working her way back to the top, and identified something that might give her particular impetus – celebrities coming to cheer her on, reminiscing about the time that she got some support from the Grey’s Anatomy actor known among the fandom as “McSteamy”.
“If I can have someone famous in my box every time I think I would definitely play better honestly. You’re trying to impress them because it’s someone famous. They’re good at their craft. You want to show them that you’re good at your craft kind of thing.
“I remember it was Eric Dane, he was in my box at Indian Wells in 2019. That was really cool.”
‘Fricking Coco Gauff and Fruhvirtova!’
Four years on from her breakout season, she also shared a little bit of nostalgia – as well as a joke about the teenagers breaking through at the top of the tour.
“Looking back at 2019, I always thought I’m just going to improve and improve. Like, I’m just going to get better.
“Then, you know, a lot of stuff happened and kind of went the opposite way. I mean, I always look back at 2019, but I also want to stay in the present moment. It’s always nice to have that reminder of I’m a Grand Slam champion because sometimes I forget.
“Sometimes I feel pretty insecure about myself considering coming off a great 2019 and then not really doing anything per se and not living up to the expectations that I put on myself and, you know, everybody else around me. Not necessarily my team, but maybe fans or et cetera, et cetera.
So it’s tough to really know what to think about, especially going into just any day. So I’m just trying to stay positive as much as I can. I know it’s cliche, but it works for me. And continuing to be patient because I know I’m doing the right things. I’ve been saying that for the past year and a half.
“So I’m hoping to get a win soon because time is ticking here. I’m 23 very soon. I say that like I’m very old, but honestly, you see fricking Coco Gauff and Fruhvirtova. I don’t know if I’m saying that right. Like, you know, time is running out!”
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