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

Bianca Andreescu shared a heartfelt reflection on her career in The Players Tribune. The 2019 US Open champion reminisced about her rapid rise on the WTA Tour, winning two WTA 1000 titles and her first Grand Slam by the age of 19, and achieving a peak ranking of world No. 4.

The Canadian described her initial Indian Wells experience as “surreal,” reflecting on her journey from qualifying to the final and the sudden media spotlight. She remarked, “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.

She added, “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.”

After winning the Indian Wells title, Andreescu traveled to Miami, where she suffered her first shoulder injury, sidelining her for two months. She recounted, “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.”

Her return was marked by the Canadian Open, where she faced Serena Williams in the final and won when Williams retired with Andreescu leading 3-1 in the first set. Andreescu noted, “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.”

She reflected, “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.”