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She’s Back: Andreescu Returns to Canadian Open After Brutal Year
Bianca Andreescu: The Comeback Kid of Canadian Tennis
Quick Summary: This article tells the story of Bianca Andreescu, a Canadian tennis superstar who won the U.S. Open at age 19, then battled injuries and mental health challenges for five years. Now she’s fighting her way back—playing qualifying tournaments, studying psychology, and using meditation to find joy in the game again.
Who Is Bianca Andreescu?
Imagine a 19-year-old from Mississauga, Ontario, stepping onto the biggest tennis stage in the world and beating the greatest player of all time—twice in five weeks. That’s exactly what Bianca Andreescu did in 2019.
Her Superpower: Turning Defense Into Offense
There’s one play that still makes fans gasp:
- Scramble to a corner at full stretch
- Opponent smashes the ball back to that same corner, trying to wrong-foot her
- Most players would be done—but Andreescu twists her body mid-air and whistles a winner back over the net
- Result: Defense instantly becomes offense. A point, a game, maybe a match turns around.
Important Point: This "scramble-and-contort" style made her a nightmare for opponents. Even Serena Williams couldn’t solve it.
The 2019 Fairy Tale Run
| Tournament | Opponent | Result | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canadian Open (Toronto) | Serena Williams | Won (Williams retired with back spasms) | First Canadian to win home tournament in 50 years |
| U.S. Open (New York) | Serena Williams | Won 6-3, 7-5 | First Canadian Grand Slam singles champion in modern era |
The Ripple Effect: A Generation Inspired
Before Andreescu, Canadians like Milos Raonic and Eugenie Bouchard reached Wimbledon finals but fell short. After her win:
- Leylah Fernandez made the U.S. Open final at 19 (2021)
- Canadian women won the Billie Jean King Cup (2023)
- Victoria Mboko won the Canadian Open as a wild card (2023)
Key Takeaway: Andreescu proved to every Canadian kid: "You can do the really big thing."
The Long, Hard Road Back (2019–2024)
The Injury List That Would Break Most People
- Back stress fracture → 9 months out
- Ankle twist at 2023 Canadian Open → Won the match laughing through tears, then had to withdraw next round
- Mental health breaks → Time away to rediscover motivation
- Volunteer work → Months at a shelter for women recovering from domestic abuse
- Yoga/meditation retreat in Costa Rica → Guests knew her only as "Bianca," not a U.S. Open champ
The Grind: From Grand Slams to Tiny Tournaments
Instead of retiring, Andreescu did something humble and hard:
- Played low-tier pro tournaments in Bradenton, Weston, Vero Beach (Florida)
- Entered qualifying rounds just to get into main draws
- Ranking dropped to No. 174 (from career-high No. 4)
Andreescu in June 2024: "There were many moments where I wanted to give up or I didn’t believe in myself. To qualify for any Grand Slam… it’s just such a privilege."
Finding a New Way: Mindset Over Medals
The Psychology Student
- Now 26, studying psychology at Indiana East University (through WTA program)
- Started in business (seemed practical) → Switched to psychology (where her heart is)
The Meditation Practice
- Multi-day retreats with Joe Dispenza (chiropractor who leads stadium meditations)
- 2,000 people meditating together to "give love, share love, feel love"
- Her words: "Focusing on that love frequency helps me stay present… reminds me of my purpose: to give back."
The New Scoreboard: Effort & Intention
| Old Mindset | New Mindset |
|---|---|
| Scoreboard at match end | Effort on every shot |
| Lifting trophies | Intention behind every action |
| Results = self-worth | "If my intent is there… whatever the score is, it is what it is" |
| Control everything | Control only what you can: effort & intention |
The Current Chapter: Wimbledon 2024
The Match That Slipped Away
- Opponent: Zhang Shuai (China)
- Score: Lost 6-7(3), 6-7(6) in two tight tiebreaks
- Had leads: Up a break in both sets
- Critical moment: Zhang serving at 3-5, 30-30 in second set—Andreescu thought "Surely this goes to a third set"
- Her internal monologue: "Don’t s––– the bed!" (Not where she wanted her mind to be)
The Silver Lining
- Played some of her best tennis in years just to qualify
- First Grand Slam main draw since 2023 U.S. Open
- First Grand Slam she ever qualified for was Wimbledon 2017 → Full circle moment
What’s Next: The Canadian Open (Toronto)
The Home Crowd Awaits
- Victoria Mboko (defending champ) → Out with knee injury
- Leylah Fernandez → Lost early in Montreal last year, lost in D.C. this week
- Andreescu → Wild card entry, ranked 140 spots below Fernandez
- Result: The tournament is Andreescu’s show until it isn’t
The Goal: Toronto is where she wants to be. Where the journey started. Where the crowd knows every twist of her story.
Summary: Why This Story Matters
- Resilience isn’t linear — Andreescu went from champion → injury purgatory → qualifying rounds → psychology student → meditator → back on the big stage
- Identity beyond results — She found purpose in volunteering, education, and "love frequency" meditation
- Canadian tennis has a mother figure — Every young Canadian player now sees a path because she walked it first
- The comeback is the story — Not the trophies, but the choice to keep showing up when every reason says stop
FAQ: Your Questions Answered
How old is Bianca Andreescu now?
She’s 26 years old (born 2000). She won the U.S. Open at 19.
Why did her ranking drop so low (No. 174)?
Five years of injuries (back fracture, ankle, etc.) forced her to miss huge chunks of seasons. Rankings are based on your best results over 52 weeks—if you don’t play, you lose points.
What does "qualifying" mean in tennis?
Lower-ranked players must win 2–3 matches before the main tournament starts just to earn a spot in the main draw. Andreescu did this at Wimbledon 2024—her first time qualifying for a Grand Slam since 2017.
Is she still good enough to win big titles?
Unknown. The women’s game has evolved (more movement, more variety). Andreescu has the variety and the IQ, but her body must hold up. She says: "I know what I can do, I know what I’m capable of."
Why does she meditate with 2,000 strangers?
She believes collective meditation creates a "love frequency" that helps her stay present on court, replacing nerves/anger with purpose. It’s her mental training—just like lifting weights is physical training.
Final Thought: Bianca Andreescu’s story isn’t about a 19-year-old miracle. It’s about a 26-year-old woman who got broken, put herself back together differently, and walked onto Centre Court at Wimbledon qualified—not given a wildcard, not protected by ranking—earned. That’s the real championship.
