Bianca Andreescu took a moment to express her gratitude towards Serena Williams and Billie Jean King on the occasion of National Girls and Women in Sports Day, which was celebrated on February 7th.
King, a former 12-time Grand Slam champion, established the WTA Tour in 1973. On the other hand, Williams, a former 23-time Grand Slam champion, has had a significant impact on the history of women’s tennis.
On this special day dedicated to women’s sports, the 23-year-old Andreescu commended King and Williams for paving the way for her own success. In her message, Andreescu also acknowledged the achievements of Coco Gauff and freestyle skier Eileen Gu.
In an Instagram Story, Andreescu wrote, “Happy National Girls and Women in Sports Day. I am extremely grateful for the girls and women in sports who have played a role in shaping my career, such as Billie Jean King and Serena Williams. Without their influence, I would not be where I am today. It is also incredible to witness the next generation of talented women in sports, like Eileen Gu and Coco Gauff, who are raising the bar.”
It has been a considerable amount of time since Andreescu last competed, with her most recent appearance taking place in early August when she suffered a first-round loss in Montreal. Following her exit from Montreal, Andreescu, a former world No. 4, took an extended break from tennis to address a persistent back injury.
Earlier this month, the 2019 US Open champion provided an update, stating that she is aiming to return to competition in early March at Indian Wells.
“It’s progressing. It’s not at 100% yet, but I’m really hopeful that I will be able to compete in Indian Wells,” Andreescu shared with TSN.
Andreescu had a remarkable debut at Indian Wells in 2019, winning the title in her first appearance at the tournament. However, in her subsequent appearances in 2021 and 2023, she was eliminated in the third round.
According to the Source tennisworldusa.org