By Arthur Kapetanakis
A winner of three straight three-setters in her home-country Rogers Cup, Bianca Andreescu has come back with a bang from her four-month injury hiatus. After winning her first WTA title in grand fashion at Indian Wells, the 19-year-old Canadian suffered a right-shoulder injury in Miami to end an eventful month of March. She returned to notch a first-round win at the French Open, but reinjured her shoulder in the process, forcing her to retire prior to Round 2.
Now back to full health—she said her body felt like a "12 out of 10" after her opening-round win over fellow Canadian Eugenie Bouchard—Andreescu is into the Toronto quarterfinals. In a few weeks time, the world No. 27 will be making her US Open main-draw debut.
After her Rogers Cup Round-of-16 win over No. 5 seed Kiki Bertens, the local favorite stopped to chat with USOpenSeries.com.
USOpenSeries.com: Everyone remembers Indian Wells, but you were on a great run leading up to that, even back to 2018 on the ITF Circuit. What was the biggest part of your game that you improved on during that time?
Bianca Andreescu: I think I improved the mental aspect of things the most. I think that’s the most important thing, so I’m really pleased with that, and I think it’s showing throughout my matches, especially these last three.
USOpenSeries.com: You said you try to look at your injury as a challenge instead of a setback, but how tough was it for you to be out of action after you had so much success so quickly?
Bianca Andreescu: Yeah, it sucks really, because all you want to be doing is playing, especially after all that success. I wanted to keep the momentum going, but sadly things happen, and you just have to deal with it. And I think I’ve dealt with it pretty well, considering I got reinjured, too. Now, with how I’m doing at the Rogers Cup, I’m really pleased.
USOpenSeries.com: After you won in Indian Wells, you mentioned that you hadn’t finished high school yet but that it was something very important to you. Were you able to work on that while you were out of action, alongside your rehab and other training?
Bianca Andreescu: Of course, rehab was No. 1, but also graduating high school was up there, too... and I did (smiles). So one thing off my chest. The reason I did want to finish high school was because you never know what's going to happen after your career. And I just want to be able to actually take courses during my career to keep my mind off tennis sometimes.
USOpenSeries.com: How much pride do you take in the success of your fellow Canadians on tour, and is that something you keep an eye on? What is your relationship like with the other Canadian women and men?
Bianca Andreescu: Yeah, we all get along really, really well. We’re like one big happy family, which is really nice. Seeing everyone doing so well means so much, not just for me, but for tennis in Canada. It's bringing way more publicity, too, and I think that’s really motivating us to keep doing better and better.
USOpenSeries.com: It doesn’t get much bigger than Indian Wells, outside of the majors… but is Rogers Cup the biggest tournament for you personally and the one title you would most like to win?
Bianca Andreescu: Definitely. It’s where I grew up playing, so winning this tournament would mean the world to me… maybe even more than Indian Wells.
USOpenSeries.com: What are your goals for the rest of the summer and the US Open?
Bianca Andreescu: Well, I would say to stay healthy, obviously, keep improving as a player and as a person, and do really well at the US Open.