The Future is Now: Bianca Andreescu

What can you say about this 19 year-old Canadian. After her US Open title, she will be the second Canadian (Genie Bouchard was the first) to be Top 5 in the world. She is the youngest player to win the US Open since Sharapova did it in 2006. And, honestly, to be recognized so highly by Serena Williams says a lot more.

Bianca Andreescu Post Match Press Conference

For a girl that started at 150 in the world at the start of 2019, without a coach at her first tournament to now finish Top 10 in the world and a grand slam champion... Her Behind the Racquet section showed her struggle of her rise right before she became this successful

“The start of 2017 was a great time in my life. I won a couple of 25k events, did well at Fed Cup and qualified for Wimbledon just after turning 17. I was then able to reach the quarterfinals at the Citi Open beating a top 15 player. Achieving that made me the first player born in 2000 to do so. My points started to add up which allowed me to play bigger events without needing wildcards. I was getting more attention than usual. People were saying that ‘maybe she isn’t a one hit wonder’. I said to myself, ‘This is it. I proved myself, now I just gotta keep it up’. Then everything started piling up in a negative way. I got too overwhelmed by everything. My tennis started going downhill. I was having difficulty with the relationships in my life including the one with myself. Practices began to feel worthless. I wasn’t enjoying it anymore. I ended up losing in the first round six times, which made me lose many points that I had to defend from the year before. I had a poor pre season which led to the year of me playing the worst tennis of my life. To make matters worse I got injured. I was on and off for maybe 4 months because of a misdiagnosis. All I wanted to do was give up. Who knew that all of this ended up being the best thing that could have ever happened to me. Of course in the beginning it didn’t feel like it because of all the losses and injuries, but I tried to maintain positive outlook and took many things into consideration. I had an ‘awakening’. I looked back at those tough times and tried to figure out ways where I can change and do better, including mindset, nutrition, training, fitness and most importantly the people around me. I wanted to seek the best advice from specialists and did a lot research on my own. Everything slowly started shifting in a more positive direction. I then went on to do well in the fall, followed by a great preseason which then led to my dreams becoming a reality in Auckland, Melbourne and then Indian Wells. The moral of my story is that if it hadn’t been for all those bumpy moments then I wouldn’t be where I am today. They made me stronger and allowed me to break out of my comfort zone to do and be better.”

Don't be surprised if she wins another major. She is the future of the WTA tour. There is no doubt in my mind.