"I deserve to be here" - Bianca Andreescu in high spirits after reaching Miami Open 4R

Bianca Andreescu believes she deserves to be in the last 16 of the 2023 Miami Open. The Canadian expressed that when she played at the tournament in 2021, she was unhappy and did not feel like she deserved to be in the final. However, that belief has changed this time around.

Andreescu had a tough start in Miami this year, beating 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu in the first round in three sets. In the second round, she warded off a challenge from World No. 10 Maria Sakkari again in three sets.

The 22-year-old dispatched 2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin in the third round, 6-4, 6-4, to make the last 16 of the Miami Open for the third time in as many appearances. The victory means that the Canadian leads their head-to-head by 4-1.

Luck was not on Andreescu’s side in her previous campaigns in Miami, as she was forced to retire both times. In 2019, the 22-year-old retired in her last 16 clash against Anett Kontaviet due to a shoulder injury. In 2021, she was forced to retire in the final against Ashleigh Barty due to an ankle sprain.

Speaking in her on-court interview after beating Kenin, Andreescu admitted she did not enjoy herself in 2021 and felt she did not deserve to be in the final. However, she feels like a different person now.

“Last time I played here in 2021, I did not enjoy myself. I did not feel that I deserved to be in that final,” said the Canadian.

“But this year, I feel like a totally different person & I definitely feel like I deserve to be here right now,” she added.

The 2019 US Open champion will face the winner of the encounter between Ekaterina Alexandrova and Belinda Bencic in the fourth round.

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“There’s so much that I know I can learn” - Bianca Andreescu feels like there is always room for improvement

World No. 31 Bianca Andreescu believes that she is never at 100 percent. The 22-year-old expressed that even if she feels like she is at 100 percent, there is always room for improvement, as there is a lot left to learn.

“I feel like there’s always room for improvement even if I’m feeling like I’m at 100 percent, but I know I’m never at 100 percent because there’s so much that I know I can learn,” she told Tennis Majors.

The Canadian is on a great run at the 2023 Miami Open. She broke her five-match losing streak against top 10 ranked players by ousting World No. 10 Maria Sakkari in the second round.

“I feel like I’m at, I would say, 75 percent, 80 percent of what I know I’m capable of," she concluded.

The former World No. 4 is hunting for her first title since 2019, when she won the US Open and two WTA 1000 titles.