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She’s Back: Andreescu Returns to Canadian Open After Brutal Year
Bianca Andreescu: The Canadian Tennis Star Who Refuses to Quit
TL;DR: Bianca Andreescu burst onto the scene in 2019 by beating Serena Williams and winning the US Open at age 19. Since then, injuries and mental health struggles knocked her down—but she keeps getting back up, changing her mindset, and fighting her way back through qualifying tournaments. Now she’s playing her home tournament in Toronto with a whole new perspective.
The Shot That Takes Your Breath Away
Imagine this: You’re watching a tennis match. A player gets pulled way out wide to the corner of the court. She stretches full extension—like a rubber band about to snap—and barely gets her racket on the ball.
Her opponent thinks, "Gotcha!" and smacks the next ball right back into that same corner. Most players would be toast. They’re off-balance, running the wrong way, totally stuck.
But not Bianca Andreescu.
She twists her body like a pretzel, contorts in mid-air, and whips the ball back over the net—turning defense into offense in a split second. It’s the kind of play that makes crowds gasp and commentators lose their minds.
Fun Fact: This "scramble-and-strike" ability is exactly what made her a star back in 2019. It’s still her signature move today.
The 2019 Fairy Tale: When Everything Changed
Before 2019, Canadian tennis had close calls but no cigars:
- Milos Raonic → Wimbledon final (lost)
- Eugenie Bouchard → Wimbledon final (lost)
Then came 19-year-old Bianca.
Her Historic Five-Week Stretch
| Tournament | Opponent | Result | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canadian Open (Toronto) | Serena Williams | Won (Williams retired hurt, 4 games in) | First Canadian to win home tournament in 50 years |
| US Open (New York) | Serena Williams | Won 6-3, 7-5 | First Canadian Grand Slam singles champion in modern era |
She didn’t just beat Serena—she solved her puzzle. While everyone else tried to out-power Serena, Bianca used variety, smarts, and that insane scrambling defense to frustrate the greatest of all time.
The Ripple Effect: A Generation Inspired
Bianca’s win wasn’t just about her. It changed what Canadian kids believed was possible.
The "Bianca Effect" Timeline:
- 2019 → Bianca wins US Open
- 2021 → Leylah Fernandez (19) makes US Open final
- 2023 → Canadian women win Billie Jean King Cup (World Cup of tennis), led by Fernandez
- 2023 → Victoria Mboko wins Canadian Open as a wildcard (hometown hero moment!)
Key Insight: Before Bianca, Canadian tennis success = "almost." After Bianca, Canadian tennis success = "we belong in the winner’s circle."
The Long, Hard Road Back (2019–2024)
Here’s the part the highlight reels don’t show. For five years, Bianca’s body betrayed her.
The Injury List That Would Break Most People
| Injury / Setback | Time Lost | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Stress fracture in back | 9 months | Couldn’t play, could barely move |
| Ankle injury (2023 Canadian Open) | Rest of tournament | Twisted ankle one point from beating Barbora Krejčíková—won the match, had to withdraw next round |
| Mental health breaks | Multiple | Stepped away to protect her mind |
| Motivation struggles | Ongoing | Questioned why she was doing this |
IMPORTANT: Most players with one of these setbacks retire. Bianca had all of them—and kept going.
The Unlikely Comeback Path: From Rock Bottom to Qualifying Rounds
When you’re a former US Open champ ranked No. 174 in the world, you don’t get automatic entry into big tournaments. You have to qualify.
Bianca’s "Grind Tour" Stops (2023–2024)
- Bradenton, Florida (ITF tournament)
- Weston, Florida (ITF tournament)
- Vero Beach, Florida (ITF tournament)
- Qualifying rounds at tour-level events
- Wimbledon 2024 qualifying → Made main draw! (First Grand Slam main draw since 2023 US Open)
Bianca, 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, even to play in qualifying, it’s just such a privilege."
The Mental Game: Meditation, Psychology & Finding "Love Frequency"
Bianca didn’t just rehab her body—she rebuilt her mind.
Her Mental Toolkit
- Multi-day meditation retreats (Marco Island, Florida with Dr. Joe Dispenza)
- Costa Rica yoga/meditation retreat — guests knew her only as "Bianca," not "US Open champ"
- Volunteering at a shelter for women recovering from domestic abuse
- College degree → Studying psychology at Indiana East University (switched from business because "that’s where my heart was")
Her New Philosophy: "Effort & Intention Over Results"
| Old Mindset | New Mindset |
|---|---|
| "Did I win? Did I lift the trophy?" | "Was my intent right on every shot?" |
| Scoreboard controls my happiness | I control my effort and intention |
| Nervous, angry, outcome-obsessed | "Love frequency" — staying present, giving back |
Bianca: "If my intent is there with whatever shot I’m hitting or with the mindset that I have, whatever the score is, it is what it is. It’s not in my hands at the end of the day. Those are the two things I can control."
Wimbledon 2024: So Close, Yet So Far
She fought through three qualifying matches just to reach the main draw. Then in Round 1:
- Opponent: Zhang Shuai (China)
- Score: Lost 6-7(3), 6-7(6) — two tight tiebreaks
- The kicker: Bianca was up a break in BOTH sets and serving for the second set at 5-3, 30-30
Bianca after the match: "I’m shocked, to be honest… I feel like I’m not ready to go home. I had the match in my hand in so many moments."
Her internal monologue at the end? **"Don’t s* the bed!" (Her words — raw, honest, human.)
Toronto 2024: The Homecoming
This week, the tour stops in Toronto (men and women alternate between Toronto and Montreal yearly).
The Storylines
- Victoria Mboko (defending champ) → OUT with knee injury
- Leylah Fernandez → Lost early in DC last week, heartbroken after 1st-round loss in Montreal 2023
- Bianca Andreescu → Wildcard entry, ranked 140 spots below Fernandez…
But make no mistake: This is Bianca’s tournament until someone takes it from her.
Why it matters: She grew up in Mississauga (right next door). This is her court, her crowd, her moment.
The Bigger Picture: Women’s Tennis Has Evolved
Since Bianca’s 2019 peak, the game has shifted:
- Movement & variety > Pure power
- Players now mix speeds, angles, slices, drop shots
- Bianca had variety in 2019 — she was ahead of the curve
- Now she’s adding mental mastery to her toolkit
Bianca: "I know what I can do, I know what I’m capable of."
Summary: Why Bianca Andreescu Matters
| Aspect | Why It’s Remarkable |
|---|---|
| 2019 Breakthrough | Teenager beats GOAT twice, wins Slam, changes a nation’s belief |
| Adversity | 5 years of injuries, mental health struggles, ranking plummet |
| Resilience | Played $25K tournaments, qualifying rounds, never quit |
| Growth | Psychology degree, meditation, volunteering, mindset shift |
| Now | Home tournament, wildcard, playing with freedom not pressure |
She’s not the same player she was in 2019. She might be something better—wiser, freer, playing for love not fear.
FAQ: Your Bianca Andreescu Questions Answered
Is Bianca Andreescu retired?
No! She’s actively playing. After injury setbacks, she worked her way back through lower-level tournaments and qualifying rounds. She’s competing at the 2024 Canadian Open in Toronto right now.
How old is Bianca Andreescu?
She’s 24 years old (turns 25 in June 2025). She won the US Open at 19 — which makes her five-year struggle even more remarkable; she’s still in her prime years physically.
What is a "wildcard" in tennis?
A wildcard is a special entry given by tournament organizers to a player who doesn’t qualify by ranking. It’s often given to local favorites, former champs, or promising young players. Bianca got one for her home tournament in Toronto.
What’s the "love frequency" she talks about?
It’s her term for a meditative state of pure presence and compassion — focusing on giving love rather than fear/anger/nerves. She practices this daily and says it helps her stay calm and purposeful on court.
Can she win another Grand Slam?
Maybe. The women’s game is deeper than ever. But Bianca has:
- Elite variety & court IQ
- Proven big-match temperament (2019)
- New mental tools (meditation, psychology)
- Nothing to lose / playing free
If her body holds up? Absolutely possible.
Final Thought
"Toronto, though, is." — The article’s closing line
After everything — the broken body, the broken spirit, the qualifying grind, the heartbreak at Wimbledon — she’s home. Playing in front of the crowd that watched her grow up. With a mind at peace and a game built on intention, not outcome.
Win or lose this week, Bianca Andreescu already won the match that mattered most: the one against quitting.
Follow Bianca’s journey at the 2024 Canadian Open — because with her, you never know when the next "breath-taking" moment is coming.
