"I want to have other hobbies, otherwise I go crazy": Bianca Andreescu sees importance in separating tennis from life off court

Former World No.4 Bianca Andreescu has been missing from the WTA Tour due to an injury hiatus. However, the Canadian is set to return this month, and recently opened up on how she spent her days during her time off.

Andreescu's last match was at last year's Canadian Open, where she lost to Camila Giorgi in the second round. However, after a long battle with injuries, she is scheduled to compete at the Rabat Grand Prix, which runs from May 19-25, 2024.

The 23-year old made an appearance on the Match Point Canada podcast, where she was asked about how she spent her time during her most recent time off. Andreescu responded by saying she discovered new hobbies such as painting and martial arts, which helped boost her mood and mental health.

"I feel like I've discovered a lot of things about myself," said the 2019 US Open champion. "Maybe if I hadn't had this time off the slopes, I wouldn't know about my passion for spirituality or martial arts, or even painting. All of that comes from not having an identity.
"I complete myself through sports. I want to have other hobbies, otherwise I go crazy. That's what happened to me when I had a mental break in 2021 and I didn't like how I felt. Having these tools not only help me in my life, but also on the track, I will enjoy it more. That's how I was last year, for example, and I feel that it will improve. Mental health has a very important place in my life, it is everything. If you are not well in that aspect, neither. Will you be physically or emotionally."