Andreescu revisits 2019 peak, gets in comeback character

The months lost to an ongoing global pandemic have left many feeling nostalgic, none more so than returning Canadian hotshot Bianca Andreescu.

Quarantined up in the Great White North, the 2019 US Open champion often found herself revisiting matches from her breakthrough season as she prepared to play the Australian Open, her first tournament in over 15 months.

“I really got into the mood, into the mindset,” she said during her pre-tournament press conference. “I felt the same things like I did in 2019, which I think really helps me just get in character.”

Andreescu’s unforgettable year saw her climb from No. 152 to Top 10 on the WTA rankings, winning big-time tournaments in Indian Wells and Toronto before hitting the pinnacle in Flushing Meadows, where she halted Serena Williams’ quest for 24 major titles in emphatic fashion.

“It really inspired me, too, just watching myself play again,” she said. “I don't normally like to do that. But I think it was good for me since I haven't played for so long. Hopefully that can help me bounce back on the court quicker.”

Getty Images

A meniscus tear incurred during the WTA Finals in Shenzhen—compounded by COVID-19—kept the Canadian off the court for all of 2020, forcing her to rely on her famed visualizations to stay focused through the many stops and starts of her recovery.

“My mind is going on 24/7 with all that imagery work,” she said. “I don't really think my return to play will be that dramatic just because of that. I mean, I really don't know how it's going to be, but I really trust in my capabilities.

“During the time off, I was able to reflect a lot on myself, on the world, how things changed so dramatically all at once. I've learnt a lot about that, about myself, so I feel like I'm in a really good place right now: mentally, physically, emotionally, all of that.”

The 20-year-old had to deal with one last setback before her first major appearance since triumphing in New York: a 14-day quarantine, one that kept her hotel-bound, glued to her Xbox for hours of Call of Duty, and ultimately led to her decision to withdraw from the Grampians Trophy—lest she risk another ill-timed injury.

“I made some mistakes in the past with that, and I learned from it. Having those two weeks off, that doesn't help at all. Yeah, I can do gym fitness, shadow tennis, but that's not the same as being on the court," she said. "Obviously I have bad days where I think to myself, ask myself, 'Why me? Why is this happening? Blah, blah, blah.’ I really do believe that everything happens for a reason, as cliché as that might sound. I try to focus on the things I can control."

Even without high expectations, the competitive fire clearly burns as Andreescu slowly shifts avatars, from gamer to champion.

“This is what I love to do," she said. "I'm super passionate. I love to win. So hopefully I can do that, as well.”