Faced with adversity Sunday, Canada’s Bianca Andreescu found a way to persevere.
It wasn’t easy, but the Mississauga, Ont., product gritted out a 7-6 (4), 6-7 (2), 6-4 third-round win over American Amanda Anisimova at the Miami Open.
Andreescu struggled in the second set, giving up two breaks, but hung on and won 83 per cent of her service points in the third set to capture a victory in a match that lasted two hours 44 minutes.
“I know that [my game] can be better but I’m trying to find ways to push through on my off days. And I think I’m doing that well,” she said.
“I think that’s what makes a really good player and I’m trying to be that really good player like I was in 2019. And I did that today. I just want to fight and give it my all and the rest will come.”
The 28th-seeded Anisimova saved 14 of 17 break points against Andreescu. The American had only two break-point chances, but converted on both.
WATCH | Andreescu beats Anisimova:
Canadian Bianca Andreescu battled past Amanda Anisimova 6-7, 7-6, 6-4 and moves at the Miami Open. 1:36
Anisimova was a tough opponent, Andreescu said.
“She’s super erratic. She slaps every ball but she slaps very well,” she said. “She’s a really good player. It was tough. I was getting to a lot of balls I didn’t even think I could get to. But that just shows that all the preparation I’m putting in is paying off.”
The eighth-seeded Andreescu, 20, will face No. 12 seed Garbiñe Muguruza of Spain in the round of 16 on Monday night. Andreescu won the only previous match between the two, beating Muguruza en route to her first career WTA Tour title in Indian Wells, Calif., in 2019.
“I have to be on my A-game tomorrow because I know Muguruza’s tough to play,” the Canadian said.
Andreescu’s parents and dog were among those in attendance
Andreescu will likely have some support in the stands. Her parents and dog, Coco, were among the limited fans in attendance on Sunday.
Hearing their support on the court was “incredible,” Andreescu said.
Andreescu fought off two set points in the first set of her opening match in Miami, rallying to beat Tereza Martincova of the Czech Republic 7-6 (5), 6-2.
The Canadian, who had a first-round bye, returned from a 16-month layoff following a knee injury in February at the Australian Open, losing in the second round.
Andreescu followed that up by reaching the semifinals of an event in Melbourne for players eliminated early from the Australian Open, but a leg injury suffered there kept her out until Miami.
Andreescu is trying to recapture the form of her breakthrough 2019 season when she won three tournaments, including the U.S. Open.
Osaka makes 4th round in Miami for 1st time with walkover
Naomi Osaka advanced to the fourth round of the Miami Open for the first time in her career Sunday when qualifier Nina Stojanovic withdrew from their match shortly before the scheduled start because of a right thigh injury.
Osaka, ranked No. 2, has won 22 consecutive matches since her most recent defeat in February 2020, and she earned her fourth Grand Slam title at the Australian Open last month. But in Miami, where she is making her fifth appearance, she has previously made early exits.
Among the matches scheduled for later Sunday were No. 4-seeded Sofia Kenin against No. 27 Ons Jabeur, and No. 6 Karolina Pliskova against No. 29 Jessica Pegula. In men’s play, No. 1 Daniil Medvedev was to take on Alexei Popyrin.
VANCOUVER – The Vancouver Canucks announced Tuesday that defenceman Alex Edler will sign a one-day contract in order to officially retire as a member of the NHL team.
The signing will be part of a celebration of Edler’s career held Oct. 11 when the Canucks host the Philadelphia Flyers.
The Canucks selected Edler, from Ostersund, Sweden, in the third round (91st overall) of the 2004 NHL draft.
He played in 925 career games for the Canucks between the 2006-07 and 2020-21 seasons, ranking fourth in franchise history and first among defencemen.
The 38-year-old leads all Vancouver defencemen with 99 goals, 310 assists and 177 power-play points with the team.
Edler also appeared in 82 career post-season contests with Vancouver and was an integral part of the Canucks’ run to the 2011 Stanley Cup final, putting up 11 points (2-9-11) across 25 games.
“I am humbled and honoured to officially end my career and retire as a member of the Vancouver Canucks,” Edler said in a release. “I consider myself lucky to have started my career with such an outstanding organization, in this amazing city, with the best fans in the NHL. Finishing my NHL career where it all began is something very special for myself and my family.”
Edler played two seasons for Los Angeles in 2021-22 and 2022-23. He did not play in the NHL last season.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 17, 2024.
The sixth-ranked Canadian women will face World Cup champion Spain in an international friendly next month.
Third-ranked Spain will host Canada on Oct. 25 at Estadio Francisco de la Hera in Almendralejo.
The game will be the first for the Canadian women since the Paris Olympics, where they lost to Germany in a quarterfinal penalty shootout after coach Bev Priestman was sent home and later suspended for a year by FIFA over her part in Canada’s drone-spying scandal.
In announcing the Spain friendly, Canada Soccer said more information on the interim women’s coaching staff for the October window will come later. Assistant coach Andy Spence took charge of the team in Priestman’s absence at the Olympics.
Spain finished fourth in Paris, beaten 1-0 by Germany in the bronze-medal match.
Canada is winless in three previous meetings (0-2-1) with Spain, most recently losing 1-0 at the Arnold Clark Cup in England in February 2022.
The teams played to a scoreless draw in May 2019 in Logroñés, Spain in a warm-up for the 2019 World Cup. Spain won 1-0 in March 2019 at the Algarve Cup in São João da Venda, Portugal.
Spain is a powerhouse in the women’s game these days.
It won the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2022 and was runner-up in 2018. And it ousted Canada 2-1 in the round of 16 of the current U-20 tournament earlier this month in Colombia before falling 1-0 to Japan after extra time in the quarterfinal.
Spain won the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2018 and 2022 and has finished on the podium on three other occasions.
FC Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmati (2023) and Alexia Putellas (2021 and ’22) have combined to win the last three Women’s Ballon d’Or awards.
And Barcelona has won three of the last four UEFA Women’s Champions League titles.
“We continue to strive to diversify our opponent pool while maintaining a high level of competition.” Daniel Michelucci, Canada Soccer’s director of national team operations, said in a statement. “We anticipate a thrilling encounter, showcasing two of the world’s top-ranked teams.”
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 17, 2024
TORONTO – The Toronto Maple Leafs have announced cookie brand Oreo as the team’s helmet sponsor for the upcoming NHL season.
The new helmet will debut Sunday when Toronto opens its 2024-25 pre-season against the Ottawa Senators at Scotiabank Arena.
The Oreo logo replaces Canadian restaurant chain Pizza Pizza, which was the Leafs’ helmet sponsor last season.
Previously, social media platform TikTok sponsored Toronto starting in the 2021-22 regular season when the league began allowing teams to sell advertising space on helmets.
The Oreo cookie consists of two chocolate biscuits around a white icing filling and is often dipped in milk.
Fittingly, the Leafs wear the Dairy Farmers of Ontario’s “Milk” logo on their jerseys.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 17, 2024.
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