“I knew I was going to win a Grand Slam”: Bianca Andreescu’s unshakable belief before 2019 US Open

Bianca Andreescu has lived through the highs and lows of professional tennis in a way few players can understand. In a revealing conversation on the Tennis Insider Club podcast hosted by Caroline Garcia, the Canadian star opened up about her breakthrough 2019 season, the mental toll of injuries, and how she has learned to redefine herself beyond the sport.

Reflecting on the start of that remarkable year, Andreescu admitted she wasn’t weighed down by expectations. “Yeah, I had no expectations because it was my first time really being on tour,” she said. “It was kind of like something new, something exciting, no expectations, just going for it and doing what I did prior, which is just being all in, focused on my tennis. But I was really enjoying myself too.” That carefree approach carried her from a ranking outside the top 150 to titles at Indian Wells and the US Open, cementing her place among the game’s elite.

What stood out most during her run, she explained, was her fearless mindset. “I didn’t necessarily think that I was going to win, but it was just this, I don’t give a shit mentality, like I’m going to do everything I can to do well. And that turned into winning. And it was just this domino effect. It was like, win, win, win, win, win, win.” Confidence snowballed, and Andreescu soon felt unstoppable. “2019 was just like, nothing can stop me. It’s like the best feeling ever.”

But that wave didn’t last forever. Injuries cut short her momentum, and the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted her career further. Andreescu acknowledged that after her US Open triumph, she never fully had the chance to enjoy the success. “It was hard to really live in the moment because so many things were happening like interviews, sponsorships, photo shoots… I wasn’t even able to go back home to Romania to celebrate with my family.” The setbacks, coupled with isolation during the pandemic, eventually pushed her into a mental health break in 2021. “It was something that I had to do, not something I wanted to do. I felt very fucked up,” she admitted.

Andreescu described just how close she came to walking away. “Towards the end, I basically wanted to quit the sport. It was that intense. So I said, OK, let’s try something else. Let’s actually make a choice of stepping away from the sport and see how that goes.” For the first time, it wasn’t an injury that forced her off tour but her own decision. “It was a very empowering thing for me, like taking life into my own hands. And it was amazing.”

During that break, she immersed herself in spiritual practices and holistic retreats in Costa Rica, exploring meditation, qigong, martial arts, and charity work. That time helped her reconnect with her identity beyond tennis. “That’s the one thing that’s always motivated me to come back to tennis after all of these stops—the fact that I want to inspire others. And I know that I can do that through the sport, whether it’s on the court or off it.”

What has kept Andreescu going, she says, are the messages she receives from fans. “I remember getting messages from little girls… ‘Bianca, I picked up a tennis racket because of you, your fighting spirit, your perseverance, even through all these injuries.’ That, to me, gives me the most joy.” For Andreescu, tennis is no longer just about titles. It’s about purpose. “When you know you can help others in a way, it just feels more fulfilling.”

The conversation also touched on perspective. Garcia reminded her, “You’re very famous, but you’re not that important in a good way, right? Like, so don’t carry the world on your shoulders because you’re just playing tennis. You’re not curing cancer.” Andreescu agreed, noting that while the pressure can feel crushing, stepping back helps. “At the end of the day, everyone will have an opinion. But it’s what identity you have about yourself and how you feel about yourself that matters the most.”

Andreescu may still be navigating the ups and downs of her career, but one thing is clear: her journey has evolved far beyond chasing trophies. With resilience, vulnerability, and authenticity, she’s showing that success in tennis can mean much more than winning titles.