"It's the saddest thing ever" - Andreescu details talk with domestic violence victims

2019 US Open champion Bianca Andreescu spent a few months away from the game and during those several months, she volunteered at a women's domestic violence shelter.

In December, Andreescu announced her withdrawal from the Australian Open as she took an indefinite break from tennis. She returned last week in Stuttgart playing a couple of matches and showing a good level of tennis. That translated to her first win in Madrid as well and she's looking closer and closer to the Andreecu of old.

However, during her stay away from tennis, it wasn't about tennis all the time for the Canadian. She revealed that she volunteered at a women's domestic violence shelter where she spoke with several victims of domestic violence. It left a permanent mark on her. She said:

"I actually spoke to a couple of women and their stories of what they went through, and if I go into detail I'm going to cry, because it's like the saddest thing ever. There is this one lady who was basically running away from her husband that wanted to kill her, like that kind of stuff. It's just absurd things. I can't believe any human being has to go through that. Just being in that environment really, first of all, makes me appreciate my life."

She further said:

"Like I said before, for me, tennis is just a platform that I love, now I love it again, to, yeah, basically help and contribute to a better world in a way. That's kind of how I'm viewing tennis. I'm not identifying myself with the sport anymore, because I felt like last year, if I lost, I hated myself. If I won, it was like the best thing ever. Last year I was losing way more than I was winning, I think. I don't know exactly my record. I was in the right place, but now I'm viewing tennis as just another opportunity to get better as a person and it's something I'm passionate about, so I want to enjoy myself out there."