Bianca Andreescu out of 2022 Australian Open: "I want to give myself extra time to reset, recover and grow"

The entry deadline is coming up shortly for the 2022 Australian Open and one player on the WTA side who will not play is former US Open champion, Bianca Andreescu.

Andreescu is currently ranked 46th after failing to defend her 2019 title at Flushing Meadows, she will not return to Melbourne in 2022.

The 21-year-old made her return to competition last year at this tournament and lost to Hsieh Su-wei in the second round before reaching the final in Miami.

She tested positive for Covid-19 before Madrid before early losses at the French Open and Wimbledon. Reaching the fourth round on her return to the US Open, she came up against one of the players of the year in Maria Sakkari before curtailing her season after Indian Wells.

Citing feeling the weight of the world on her shoulders throughout last season both on and off the court on her return to action, she said she now wants time to reset, recover and grow before coming back stronger after Australia.

"As you all know, the past two years have been very challenging for me for a variety of reasons. Especially this year in particular, I spent multiple weeks in isolation quarantining which affected me greatly, both mentally and physically. In addition, my grandmother spent several weeks in the ICU due to a Covid infection, something that really hit me hard. A lot of days I did not feel like myself, especially while I was training and/or playing matches," she said on social media.

"I felt like I was carrying the world on my shoulders. I could not detach myself from everything that was going on off the court. I was feeling the collective sadness and turmoil around and it took it's toll on me. I want to give myself extra time to re-set, recover and grow from this and continue to inspire by doing charity work, giving back and working on myself because I know by doing this I will come back stronger than ever.

"I will therefore not start my season in Australia this year, but will take some additional time to reflect, train and be ready for the upcoming 2022 tennis season."