Flashback: Bianca Andreescu at the 2019 Miami Open

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As Bianca Andreescu waits to take the court Monday for her fourth-round match at the Miami Open, a look back to two years ago, when her run ended in the fourth round.

It was a heady time.

Some opiniators offered that she should pull out, after the physical and mental effort of coming from virtually nowhere to win a major title at Indian Wells. As well, the shoulder and upper arm had been taped up as the tournament went along.

But Andreescu’s parents (and the doggie) were waiting for her in Miami.

Plus, when you’re on a roll like that, you want to keep rolling – and winning.

And so, she arrived.

Her first round was a carbon copy of her first round in Indian Wells: the very tough Romanian Irina-Camelia Begu.

She was almost out of the tournament in California before she even began, but pulled it out.

In Miami, she did it again: coming back from a set and 1-5 down, saving match point, and winning 4-6, 7-6 (2), 6-2.

Here’s what she had to say about it.

Straight sets vs. Kenin

The second round was against American Sofia Kenin, who wasn’t SOFIA KENIN then, but was still ranked No. 34 in the world and the No. 32 seed.

Andreescu won in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3.

She got mobbed afterwards (remember those days?)

Here’s what the then 18-year-old had to say about it.

“Drama” in stadium court win over Angelique Kerber

After that, came the second win in a week against former No. 1 Angelique Kerber.

There was some drama – beyond the fact that it ended in the wee hours.

It was nearly 2 a.m. by the time Andreescu got off court, signed autographs and took selfies with the “high-end patrons” who got that post-match access, and did a round of media.

If there’s anything to glean, it’s just how repetitive the process can be. The fellow doing the flash interviews basically has to ask the three questions, change the flash and go at it again.

And, of course, Coco the dog (two years younger then) got the run of the place.

Hopeful, but Andreescu shoulder didn’t hold up

Asked about the shoulder issues after the Kerber match, Andresscu said it was major tightness that she had been feeling since Indian Wells.

But she downplayed it (as athletes will do), and expected to be ready to go for her fourth-round match against Anett Kontaveit of Estonia.

She wasn’t, and had to retire down 6-1, 2-0.

She was disappointed. But resolved to be back for Fed Cup a few weeks down the road, after pulling out of Charleston and heading home.

That, of course didn’t happen.

Spring and summer absence for Andreescu

Andreescu did everything she could to be ready for Roland Garros, and showed up to play there pronouncing herself pain-free and good to go.

A marathon match against Marie Bouzkova, spread out over two days, was pushing it a bit too far.

And after winning it, Andreescu pulled out of her second round.

It was to be a rematch against Kenin.

The Canadian missed the entire summer … until the Rogers Cup.

And we all know the rest of the story.

OR DO YOU???

(Shameless book plug).

Bianca is back – buy the book!

Fourth round defends 2019 points for Andreescu

This was to be the first tournament where Andreescu – who has remained in the top 10 based on the fact that the frozen pandemic rankings have artificially held up players who have not been on the court much in the last 12 months – had to defend.