Bianca Andreescu completes epic comeback to beat Muguruza in Adelaide

Canadian Bianca Andreescu celebrates winning her first round match against Spanish player Garbine Muguruza in the WTA Adelaide International tournament in Adelaide on January 1, 2023. (Photo by Brenton EDWARDS / AFP) (Photo by BRENTON EDWARDS/AFP via Getty Images)

Canada's Bianca Andreescu rallied to beat Garbine Muguruza of Spain 0-6, 7-6 (3), 6-1 in a clash of Grand Slam champions Sunday in the first round of the Adelaide International.

The 2019 US Open champion Andreescu trailed 0-6, 2-5 before staging a remarkable comeback to beat two-time major titlist Muguruza in two hours, 12 minutes. Andreescu improved her head-to-head record against former top-ranked Muguruza to 3-0.

"In the second set I really had to change my gameplan," Andreescu said. "I told myself to go for it (and) whatever happens happens.

"I put more returns in the court, more serves in the court. I'm so glad I pulled that out. I have no idea how."

Muguruza looked in outstanding form in the first set, hitting eight winners to two and converting three of five break points while not facing a break point herself.

Andreescu started the second set more strongly but Muguruza nailed a forehand winner to lead 4-2 and served for a 5-2 lead.

Muguruza served for the match at 5-3 but Andreescu averted that danger and took a crucial 4-2 lead in the tiebreaker with a backhand down the line, before closing out the set with an ace.

Andreescu served well, then broke for 3-1 in the final set.

The 22-year-old from Mississauga, Ont., will now play either No.4 seed Veronika Kudermetova or Amanda Anisimova in the second round.

Montreal's Felix Auger-Aliassime, the men's No. 2 seed, opens Monday against qualifier Alexei Popyrin of Australia.

Top-ranked Novak Djokovic is expected to play his first round singles against Constant Lestienne of France on Monday.

All eyes will be on Djokovic who returns to Australia after being deported last year because of visa problems caused by his vaccination stance.

Djokovic won the Adelaide International as a 19-year-old in 2007 for his third ATP Tour title.

"I chose Adelaide because I wanted to get a tournament ahead of Australian Open," Djokovic told reporters this week. "I wanted a normal 250 event.

"Judging by the list of players that are playing in a 250 event it's not really 250 event. It's maybe a 500 event or maybe a 1000. Some of the best players in the world playing here, both men and women's side."

"The field is super strong. You have Medvedev, Felix, Rublev. You have really, really top guys. Also in the opening rounds you can play Thanasi Kokkinakis, who is title defender, right?"

Later, Marcos Giron of the United States outlasted veteran Richard Gasquet 7-6 (5), 6-7 (6), 7-5 in a first-round singles match which lasted just under three hours.