Former US Open champion Bianca Andreescu shows her class in consoling tearful vanquished French Open qualifying opponent

Tuesday, 19 May 2026 at 14:00

Bianca Andreescu has gone from winning the US Open to a lower level this year as she aims for yet another rebuild after being blighted by injuries. But in winning her opener, Andreescu who is well revered for her humility also consoled the opposing side of her contest.

Andreescu has to play Roland Garros qualifying this week, something that is becoming more the norm for the 25-year-old Canadian who has gone from that 2019 triumph in Flushing Meadows to now playing ITF and qualifying as she has banished the previous stigma surrounding going from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows.

She faced Daphnee Mpetshi Perricard, brother of the serve artist Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard who blazes a trail as one of the top French men. But the occasion got to her after her campaign ended 6-3, 6-2 and she started getting emotional as Andreescu was taking her victory lap around Suzanne Lenglen.

But Andreescu noticed the situation and went over to hold her hand and give her encouragement as she got upset. A true pro.

From teenage megastar to lower level but still the hunger to succeed

Andreescu spoke this week also to BBC as she prepared for qualifying about going from those highs to the lows and how your life changes over night as she navigates her mid 20's compared to being a teenage megastar.

"I don't think it's possible to really prepare yourself [for a Grand Slam victory], especially if you haven't gone through that before, but I wish I had a little bit more guidance after the US Open," Andreescu told BBC Sport earlier this week.

"You think you know everything at 19, and I just remember I'm not one to ever ask for help, but I am a little bit better at that now. So maybe if I did, things would have been different."

Bianca Andreescu has played lower level a lot recently.

But she spoke about the stark contrast between being at the top of the game and then crashing and how it becomes about survival financially too.

"The hunger the women had that I was playing against, every match was so difficult, and I feel like maybe on the WTA Tour, the athletes are maybe a bit more comfortable with certain things," Andreescu says.

"Certain things are getting paid for [on the WTA Tour]. But on that [ITF] level, nothing's getting paid for, and you're barely breaking even. I was there too at one point, so I know how it is.

"I don't want people to get the idea that the ITF tour is Mickey Mouse compared to the WTA Tour, because that's not the case.

"I feel a lot of admiration and respect for the women that continue to grind on the tour, because it's not easy, even on the WTA Tour, it's just not easy."

But she also looked back at what she was like at 19 compared to now and how the fearlessness is still there but she knows she can do it again. First part done at Roland Garros at least.

"The one thing that stands out for me was the confidence that I had and the fearlessness and the enjoyment that I had on the court - it was more of an innocence," she says. "I'm a different person now and in a different time in my life, but it's still a part of me.

"It's not that I'm necessarily... trying to replicate [the past], because I don't think that's possible. But I've done it once - I know I can do it again."

Absolute class from Bianca Andreescu 🙏#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/z6jDuZNWN7
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 19, 2026

Samuel GillEditor-in-Chief

Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.

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