Published: 17:38, June 29, 2022 | Updated: 18:00, June 29, 2022
Andreescu happy to earn first main draw win at Wimbledon
By Reuters

Canada's Bianca Andreescu plays a shot against Belinda Bencic of Switzerland during their second round match at the French Open tennis tournament in Roland Garros stadium in Paris, France, May 25, 2022. (CHRISTOPHE ENA / AP)

Bianca Andreescu said she was pleased to earn her first main draw win at Wimbledon at the third attempt, five years on from a nervous debut at the grasscourt Grand Slam.

Both of the Canadian's previous appearances at the All England Club had ended in first-round exits - to Kristina Kucova in 2017 and Alize Cornet last year.

But the 2019 US Open champion needed less than an hour to beat Emina Bektas 6-1 6-3 on Tuesday. 

I was talking to my trainer about my first time at Wimbledon, and it was great. At my first three qualifiers, I was killing it. I go to the main site and I completely froze.

Bianca Andreescu, tennis player

"I was talking to my trainer about my first time at Wimbledon, and it was great. At my first three qualifiers, I was killing it," Andreescu told reporters.

"I go to the main site and I completely froze.

"I remember I could not put a forehand on the court. So looking back at that and finally getting a win here in the main draw means a lot to me. That was like five years ago.

"It was my first Grand Slam too. I didn't really think I would really do anything, but now I have bigger dreams."

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The 22-year-old, who returned to action in Stuttgart in April following a six-month mental health hiatus, faces Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina in the second round.

"(Rybakina is) playing really good tennis right now. I think her game really suits the grass, so I'm expecting a tough match," she added.

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"I have practiced with her a couple of times - not on grass - so I kind of know how she hits. I know she fights really hard, so I've got to fight harder."