"Hopefully in a week I can be 100 percent for Rome": Andreescu sees positives in return despite Wang defeat

Bianca Andreescu aims to regain her best form at the WTA 1000 Rome, despite her defeat against Xiyu Wang at the Madrid Open.

The Canadian was defeated in the second round of the Madrid Open in her first match since the injury that forced her to withdraw from the Miami Open. Initially, Andreescu's injury was thought to be long-term, but she managed to bounce back and return after a month without playing a tournament.

In the match against the Chinese player, the world No. 27 won the first set but could not maintain her consistency, and Wang won the match 3-6, 7-6(5), 6-2. The former US Open champion took the positive side of the defeat in her interview with the WTA:

“I worked really hard during my rehab because I wanted to get back on court as soon as possible,” Andreescu said.

“I’ve been through the process so I knew what to expect. My progress was pretty up and down. But the last week I would say I made the biggest progress.”

“Honestly, until two days ago I didn’t feel as confident. So it was super, super soon. It was really great to test my ankle in a match like this. It was almost three hours.”

“I knew I could have had it, especially in the second set. “I think she played great tennis. She was serving very well. I feel like my serve went down a bit. But it’s great to be back on court nonetheless. I didn’t know if I was going to play the tournament. I was just super happy to be on court,” said former world No.4

Andreescu spoke about the injury she had and the mental consequences it had.

“I worked a lot mentally to try and get rid of the fear and the PTSD of the incident because it was very very painful,” Andreescu said.

“Coming on clay, with the sliding, it could be pretty scary. But I think I’m in the right direction. I’m definitely not 100 percent. I would say I’m 90 percent right now, but 90 percent confident too, to go out there and push,” she added.

“Today was a great test, so hopefully in a week I can be 100 percent for Rome.”

The Chinese Wang Xiyu will fase Barbora Krejcikova for the third round of 2023 Miami Open