WTA Finals Shenzhen Purple Group Preview: Andreescu vs. Halep

Earlier this week, I asked Bianca Andreescu if her newfound fame has changed her at all.

“No it hasn’t, thank God,” she said. “But I am becoming more strict with my time.”

Understandable. After winning the US Open, Andreescu embarked on a North American media tour extravaganza, appearing on The Today Show,The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, The View, Good Morning America, and more. She's been spotted court-side at Toronto Raptors games,dropped the puck at Maple Leafs games, and earlier this year threw the opening pitch at a Blue Jays' game. **It’s been quite the 2019 for the shockingly down-to-earth star.

Now that Andreescu has made her mark on the tennis world, she will have to adapt to playing with a target on her back. Of all the betting lines in the first round-robin stage, the oddsmakers favor Andreescu over Simona Halep more heavily than anyone else. Maybe because she owns the best win percentage this season (90.5 %) of any member of the final eight.

Andreescu is 8-1 against Top-10 players this year, but has not faced Halep before. The Canadian's combination of raw power and self-proclaimed "junk" should serve her well in this matchup against the slightly more one-dimensional Halep, who was troubled by a back injury during the Asian swing.

While the Romanian may hit the same type of ball on a more regular basis than Andreescu, she can still beat you in a variety of ways. If she’s in the zone, Halep can hit anyone off the court. If she’s not at her best, the two-time major winner can still outlast her opponents with elite speed and consistency. Andreescu is the favorite, but she will have to play her very best to take down the future Hall of Famer. Winner: Andreescu

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