US Open: Bianca Andreescu changes outfit mid-match, apologises to sponsor Nike

Bianca Andreescu kicked off her US Open 2022 campaign on a controversial note. The 22-year-old changed her ‘uncomfortable’ outfit mid-match and placed the blame on her design sponsor Nike. 

The Canadian player later apologised to the footwear and apparel company. 

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Andreescu was playing French player Harmony Tan. The winds in the open arena kept blowing her skirt up and affecting her shots. She eventually requested the chair umpire for an additional bathroom break to change.

She blamed Nike for the design. 

“Can this not count as one of my changeovers because, I mean, it’s not my fault, it’s Nike’s fault. This dress is so bad,” Andreescu appealed to the umpire.

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“OK, I need to go. This is really bad.”

She returned wearing a white Nike tank top and skirt and eventually beat Tan 6-0 3-6 6-1.

Andreescu has a long-standing relationship with Nike. She rose to prominence at the 2019 US Open, where the 22-year-old beat Sarena Williams. 

“It was just bothering me on some forehands. I just felt like it was kind of coming up a bit. Obviously the wind didn’t help,” she told reporters.

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“But I meant no disrespect with what I said to the umpire. I was trying to convince him to not take away that washroom break, because I know we only get two. He was very nice to say it was totally okay. I could have definitely used a different choice of wording. So I apologise to anyone I disrespected. I love Nike and I hope I can be with them for the rest of my life!”

Andreescu will next play Beatriz Haddad Maia in the second round.