“It was surreal”: Andreescu shares the emotional rollercoaster over her stunning rise

Bianca Andreescu published an emotional reflection on her career in The Players Tribune. The 2019 US Open champion looked back on her early success on the WTA Tour, having won two WTA 1000 titles and her first Grand Slam by just 19 years old, reaching her highest ranking of world No. 4.

The Canadian noted that her first Indian Wells experience was "surreal," as she progressed from qualifying to the final, quickly capturing media attention: “It was surreal. You’re around Nadal and Federer and Djokovic, and it’s shocking in a way you’re part of that group. Especially when you get into the later rounds. Quarters, semis, you’re getting a lot more media attention.”

Andreescu defeated players like Garbine Muguruza and Elina Svitolina on her way to her first professional final: “I’m playing 3x Grand Slam champion, Angelique Kerber. At the time, there was this whole thing around it on social media because I was one of the first wild cards in Indian Wells history to reach the final, and the youngest one,” she stated.

“The night before, I was texting my mom … my parents were feeling that same shock. They were like, ‘Bianca, what’s going on??? You’re in the finals!!!’ Obviously, they believed in me a hundred percent. They had no doubts in their mind since I was a baby that I was going to do big things. But when it actually happens, it’s totally different. Nothing prepares you for it,” she added.

After winning the Indian Wells title, Andreescu traveled to Miami, where she experienced her first shoulder injury that kept her off the courts for two months: “I did compete in the French Open, but I ended up having to pull out in the second round due to more pain because I came back too soon. That was another lesson I had to learn. I was very sad and had to take more time off, meaning I had to skip Wimbledon,” Andreescu wrote.

Her return came at the Canadian Open, where she reached the final against Serena Williams and claimed the title after the American retired while Andreescu was leading 3-1 in the first set: “I mean it’s my hometown, it’s Serena Williams in the final … it doesn’t get better than that, right? I loved Serena growing up, and I still love her now. She’s incredible.”

“That moment really prepared me — so when I got to the US Open final, a few weeks later, I was way more composed. I had learned to embrace this calming confidence, and that whole tournament I just let it wash over me. Before the final, there was a clip that went viral of me  jamming in the tunnel while waiting to walk out. And it’s funny to look back on, but it’s also a good example of where my mindset was at the time.”

“I’d just won the US Open. But it didn’t feel real. None of it did. I mean, how does this shy teenager from Mississauga win Indian Wells, the Canadian Open, and the US Open in their first year on tour? How do you, in one year, go from juniors to No. 5 in the world??”

“But the thing is … my body couldn’t handle it. I was getting injured and injured and injured. I was always so tired. After matches, I would just plump on the bed and legit not move a muscle. I would play through every pain, and I would win. To the point where that became the expectation — winning.”

Bianca Andreescu later recalled how the onset of the pandemic in 2020 and injuries prevented her from defending the titles she achieved during her incredible 2019 season: “Going into 2021, I was still No. 7 in the world, but I hadn’t played for a year and two months. I would tell myself, If 2019 can happen, 2021 can happen. It can just be the same thing. But I realized that it’s not. I started coming to the reality of the tour: losing every single week.”

Andreescu reflected on some of her most painful losses in 2021, such as the first-round exits at the French Open and Wimbledon, and the tight defeat in the US Open quarterfinals against Maria Sakkari.

She also addressed the amount of hate messages she received on social media: “I read all these hateful messages on purpose. I already felt so negative, and it’s like I wanted to feel worse. I don’t even want to repeat what they said, honestly, they were so bad. But you can only imagine. Go ‘eff’ yourself. I’m going to find you. I’m going to ‘effing’ kill you. That type of thing. It was so dark. I told myself I’d never do that again.”

The former world No. 4 also reflected on the support she has received from her parents and family, and commented on how she now has a different appreciation for life: “It’s crazy to think it’s been five years. I’m 24 years old. I still have so much to learn, but those years make a world of difference. Life for me now is mainly about cherishing every moment. My grandfather passed away two years ago, and my grandmother on my dad’s side has Alzheimer’s. Those kinds of struggles have a way of putting things into perspective.”