A popular Canadian will be missing from the 2024 Australian Open in the form of Bianca Andreescu who after not appearing on the Entry List has confirmed she will not begin her season in Melbourne.
It is continued frustration for Andreescu who came back so valiantly after what looked like a season ending injury in Miami after showing signs throughout 2023 of the form that propelled her to the 2019 US Open title. She has been out since August suffering a stress fracture in Montreal and is yet to even pick up a racquet in her return to action.
Bianca Andreescu in an interview about missing the AO: - She’s still dealing with a stress fracture injury to her back & aims to come back in Indian Wells or Miami - She wants to play the Olympic but her current ranking is too low so she will have to work hard when she’s back
But it will be during Spring that she will return with Indian Wells and Miami the likely targets in March for the 23-year-old who says she is getting better everyday but not enough to find her way into contention for Australia.
"No, sadly I won't be at the Australian Open," Andreescu confirmed during the Canadian Olympic Committee's Paris media summit on Thursday. "Right now I'm looking at (returning) after the Australia Open or the American Tour, so Indian Wells ... maybe.
"We're very close but right now I am still dealing with my back injury. It is getting better every single day and I am doing everything I can to get there as fast as possible but these things take time. I'm feeling very confident for 2024."
But also as well as missing tournaments due to injury, she missed the Billie Jean King Cup triumph for Leylah Fernandez and co in recent months and admits she needs to dig deep to force an Olympic Games spot.
"I do miss playing and seeing the girls win the Billie Jean Cup too ... I really wish I was there. Injuries just suck," said Andreescu. "Super sad I couldn't be there because it is also my dream to win that tournament too.
"I really have to dig deep next year to get my spot but I've always wanted to play that tournament so I am hoping that will be enough motivation to win as much as I can. It just sucks I have been through so many injuries. With all the injuries I've had you think I would have figured it out."
