Bianca Andreescu comeback cut short in opening-round disappointment at China Open

Bianca Andreescu returned to the court at the China Open, suffering a 6-4, 7-6(4) defeat to world No. 96 Anna Bondar in what was the Canadian's first presentation in nearly two months following a new injury. At 25 years old, Andreescu continues to be plagued by injuries, which have barely allowed her to perform in recent years.

Andreescu has been fighting to return to the courts throughout 2025, with some tournaments played but several withdrawals along the way. In fact, her last appearance was at the Canadian Open, where she suffered an unfortunate injury during the first round against two-time Grand Slam champion Barbora Krejcikova. Andreescu fell in that match when she had match point in her favor.

The former world No. 4 decided to continue the match despite barely being able to move, capitalizing on a couple of unforced errors from her opponent to eventually secure the victory and advance to the second round. However, she could not recover to appear in the second round against world No. 5 Mirra Andreeva and opted to withdraw, remaining off the courts ever since and forced to miss the US Open.

Andreescu, currently world No. 181, was at least able to finish the match in good physical condition and showed some positive aspects of her game. The Canadian now has a 9-9 record for the season and will return in two weeks at the last WTA 1000 of the season: the Wuhan Open, where she will have to play in the qualifying rounds.

The mere fact that Andreescu was back on the courts was good news for a player who has spent more time sidelined than competing in recent years. The former US Open champion was the first to serve, and amidst nerves from being away from competition for a long time, she ended up conceding her first service game to qualifier Bondár. The Hungarian player took the lead with her serve in what looked like a dominant start, going up 2-0.

However, Andreescu began to land first serves and find a rhythm that allowed her to compete equally with Bondár. The Canadian showed glimpses of a comeback when she broke back and leveled the score at 4-4, but she could not consolidate her serve in the following game. Bondár ended up closing the set 6-4, winning 64% of service points against 58% for Andreescu, who was not sharp under pressure, conceding her serve on both break points her opponent had.

The start of the second set was a rollercoaster, with both players having serious trouble holding serve. They began with a pair of cross-court breaks, which set the tone for a set defined by 7 total breaks in 10 games played. Bondár was the one who took the lead at times when Andreescu's first serve failed to hurt the Hungarian, and she secured up to four consecutive breaks.

However, closing out the set would not be easy, as Bondár also had her own service issues. The Hungarian served while up 4-1 and then 5-2, and on both occasions, Andreescu broke back. From the start of the set until 5-3, the difference was marked by a single game in which Bondar held her serve. Andreescu managed to defend her service game for the first time in the 9th game, narrowing the gap to 5-4 and putting pressure on her opponent, who had to serve for the victory.

The Hungarian couldn't handle the pressure of the moment, and Andreescu broke back at the most crucial time. Both players held their serve one last time and took the set to a tie-break. Andreescu was the first to take the lead, but she couldn't maintain her advantage. Bondár won the last four points in a row and closed out the victory with a score of 6-4, 7-6(4).