Andreescu returns to WTA Tour from long absence, loses in 3rd-set tiebreaker
Canadian athlete is a former world No. 4 and 2019 U.S. Open champion
Canadian tennis player Bianca Andreescu fell just short in her return to WTA Tour action after falling 6-1, 4-6, 7-6 (2) to Suzan Lamens of the Netherlands on Wednesday in first-round action at the Open de Rouen in France.
The 24-year-old from Mississauga, Ont., made her return at the WTA 250 clay-court event after an absence of nearly six months.
Lamens, ranked No. 69, dominated the first set by converting three of four break points while converting nine of 11 first service points.
Andreescu came back by outscoring Lames 2-1 on breaks in the second set, but the Dutch player came through in the third-set tiebreaker.
Andreescu, a former world No. 4 and the 2019 U.S. Open champion, entered the tournament ranked 130th on the WTA Tour.
Her last match was a straight-set loss to Katie Boulter in the Tokyo quarterfinals in October before she took time off to focus on her health.
Andreescu returned from a nine-month absence due to a back injury at last year's French Open before taking more time off between a first-round exit at the U.S. Open and her two appearances in Japan.
