"I have to travel with another suitcase": Andreescu 'investing' in her health with special boots to aid ankle recovery

Bianca Andreescu does not seem too upset after her second round loss at the 2023 Madrid Open, with the Canadian more pleased that she was back on the court so soon after suffering a grisly injury at last month's Miami Open.

The former World No.4 tore two ligaments in her left ankle during a match in Miami, and was tearfully carted off the court in a wheelchair. However, Andreescu recovered in time for the clay-court season, with her team pleased that the ankle held up during her three-hour defeat to Xiyu Wang in Madrid.

The 2019 US Open champion credited daily ankle-strengthening exercises for her rapid recovery, alongside stretching out while wearing full-leg lymphatic-drainage boots. She travels everywhere with the boots, which inflate with air and provide compression to help her recover more quickly between workouts.

“I have to travel with another suitcase,” she said. “But hey, I’m investing in my health.”

Despite battling the fear of reinjuring her ankle, Andreescu remains positive and hopes to reclaim her spot in the top 10 of the WTA rankings.

“I’m still only 22 years old, and I feel like I still have so much more to learn about myself and my game,” she said. “Who knows what I’m going to be in like in two or three years, even in the next six months."