EXCLUSIVE: Annabel Croft picks out ‘breath of fresh air’ Bianca Andreescu as her player to watch in 2019

Annabel Croft believes Canadian teenager Bianca Andreescu has the potential to emerge as one of the next big stars of women’s tennis, as she told Tennis365 the sport needs to find new superstars to replace outgoing legends.
As BT Sport analyst Croft sat down with Tennis365 for an exclusive interview, she identified a player currently ranked at No 23 in the world as the rising star who could burst from the pack to “cause havoc” in the three remaining Grand Slams this year, after she made her breakthrough with a wonderful win at the Indian Wells event in March.
With Serana Williams’ extended era of dominance seemingly edging towards a conclusion, the women’s game has been undergoing a period of change in 2019, with the opening 18 WTA events of the years being won by 18 different players.
“Nothing is predictable in the women’s game at the moment and we have had so many winners in 2019, but one of the players who has really been a stand-out performer for me has been Bianca Andreescu,” Croft told us.
“She is a beautiful player, a breath of fresh air for the game. She plays a bit differently, mixes the pace up, the spins, the slices, the high of the ball, she has a great drop shot… she has a bit of everything.
“If she can carry on developing, she could be the one to watch. Let’s not forget that she is still only 18 and already, she has won one of the biggest events on the tour after winning at Indian Wells in March. So I’m excited to see how she develops. Andreescu could take the game by storm.”
Croft believes this would be the ideal moment for a young British player to stake a claim for success at the top of the game, but she admits the demands of reaching the world’s top ten and staying there are draining.
“It would be great to have a British player coming through right now who could get in the mix because this is a period of change in the women’s game and there is space for some fresh talent if we can unearth it,” she added.
“However, you need more than talent. It is so draining, it is such an emotional experience to get anywhere near the top of the game.
“Everything needs to come together all at once. To maintain a very high intensity level for an entire year, when you are on a rollercoaster ride every other day, it is tough to deal with.
“That’s why I believe we have seen girls breaking through and winning big events and then dropping off for a period. Maintaining that level of intensity is so difficult. It’s so hard to keep it going.
“This is why we have all looked on in awe at Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Andy Murray for the levels they managed to maintain for a decade and more. We may don’t realise how incredible those four have been because we got used to their brilliance a long time ago, but they have been truly phenomenal in terms of their levels of consistency. They don’t have these big drops offs.”
BT Sport is the home of women’s tennis, bringing you action from across the world on the WTA Tour and Fed Cup. For more information visit bt.com/sport.
For the first time in WTA Tour history, the first 18 tournaments of the year yielded 18 different champions, with Petra Kvitova ending that the unprecedented streak when she won her first Porsche Tennis Grand Prix trophy and second title of the season.
Kvitova is also the only woman to make more than two WTA finals so far this season, as this list confirms:
Petra Kvitova: 4 (Sydney, Australian Open, Dubai, Stuttgart)
Karolina Pliskova: 2 (Brisbane, Miami)
Bianca Andreescu: 2 (Auckland, Indian Wells)
Ashleigh Barty: 2 (Sydney, Miami)
Sofia Kenin: 2 (Hobart, Acapulco)
Marketa Vondrousova: 2 (Budapest, Istanbul)
Follow us on Twitter @T365Official and like our Facebook page.
More from Tennis365:
Latest
-
News
Jamie Murray says quarantine threat on tour means players must be ready to adapt
The doubles specialist plans to travel to tournaments in Mexico and Miami next month without knowing what to expect on arrival.
-
Tennis News
Battle of the Brits event is back and this time with spectators
The Battle of the Brits events were a huge success during the Covid-19 crisis and now they are set to return with spectators.
-
Tennis Features
The only way is up for Naomi Osaka as she looks to replicate hard-court success on clay and grass
Oli Jefford on the world being Naomi Osaka’s oyster.
-
Kevin Palmer
Britain’s strength in depth in doubles highlights quality of structure
British tennis may be wondering who can replace Andy Murray, but they have a very different story to tell in the doubles arena.
-
Tennis News
Rafael Nadal pulls out of his next event due to ‘ongoing’ back problem
Rafael Nadal has withdrawn from the ABN…
-
Tennis News
Lleyton Hewitt to be inducted into International Tennis Hall Of Fame
Former world No.1 Lleyton Hewitt is the latest player who will be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
-
Tennis Features
Five of the best men’s matches at the Australian Open featuring Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Rafael Nadal, and more
The matches that made us sit up and take note.
-
Australian Open
Five of the best women’s matches at Australian Open featuring Naomi Osaka vs Garbine Muguruza, and more
Five of the best women’s singles matches at the 2021 Aus Open.
-
WTA Tour
Ashleigh Barty laments giving away control to Danielle Collins as she suffers defeat in Adelaide
Early exit for defending champion Ashleigh Barty.
-
Australian Open
Toni Nadal believes the pressure got to Daniil Medvedev in the Australian Open final
Daniil Medvedev felt the heat.