At 2:55 a.m. and 20 breaks of serve later, Elena Rybakina finishes off Daria Kasatkina in Montreal epic

Bianca Andreescu says she should be fit for her second-round contest at the National Bank Open in Toronto—despite experiencing dizziness during her opener.

The 22-year-old defeated Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic champion Daria Kasatkina, 7-6(5), 6-4, calling the trainer during the first set but saying the problem had no connection to her recent injury in San Jose.

"It has nothing to do with my back. I felt really dizzy," Andreescu told press at Toronto.

"Maybe something that I ate or all the stress leading up to the tournament. I felt good today leading up to the match."

Those extra nerves likely came from playing in front of the home crowds, but that was also what helped her to victory.

"If it wasn't for them I don't think I would have pulled through, because they really gave me a lot of positive energy," she said. "I hit a shot and I was just like, I was seeing double almost. So that was kind of like the point where I didn't feel the best."

Advertising

I definitely did not mean to cause any harm/distraction or whatever people have been calling it to my opponent or anyone in that matter…It just makes me sad to see that people really believe that. Us athletes go through injuries, sickness etc, the last thing I want to do is put more of that energy in the air, especially if it’s fake? Bianca Andreescu

Andreescu will now aim to fully recover for her second-round meeting against Alizé Cornet.

"I'm sure it will," she said.

The Canadian later took to her Instagram stories to defend the medical timeout, hitting out at those accusing her of calling the trainer for tactical reasons.

“I genuinely did not feel good,” she wrote. “I definitely did not mean to cause any harm/distraction or whatever people have been calling it to my opponent or anyone in that matter…It just makes me sad to see that people really believe that. Us athletes go through injuries, sickness etc, the last thing I want to do is put more of that energy in the air, especially if it’s fake?”

Having won the tournament when it was most recently played in Toronto, she's also aiming to find some of the form she had during her breakthrough season, when she also won the US Open.

"When I said I'm bringing 2019 energy back it's more that have fearless, like no pressure, like just going for it. I think I did that tonight. So let's keep it going," said Andreescu, who has been on and off the tour with frequent injuries since then, and also took a break to mentally recharge before starting this season.

The former champion is No.53 in the rankings.

Advertising