Tennis: Bartunkova ousts home favorite Andreescu in Toronto

A home story ends early

Bianca Andreescu is out of Toronto. The Canadian, a wildcard and the 2019 champion here, fell to young Czech Nikola Bartunkova 7-5, 6-4 on Monday in the first round of the National Bank Open.

The crowd came to see a comeback tale. Bartunkova had other plans. She held her nerve through a tight opening set, took it 7-5, then pulled clear in the second to close out one of the tournament’s early upsets.

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Bartunkova makes her mark

For Bartunkova, this is the kind of win that changes a season. Beating a former champion on her home court, in front of a partisan crowd, is a statement no ranking points can fully capture.

The Czech kept her groundstrokes deep and made Andreescu play an extra ball again and again. When the Canadian pressed for the openings that once came easily, they were not there.

Where it leaves Andreescu

Andreescu keeps searching for the consistency that injuries have interrupted for years. The talent still flashes, but another early exit at home stings, and the questions about her form will follow her out of Toronto.

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