2019 US Open champion Bianca Andreescu has revealed her plans to return to the court during the upcoming Sunshine Double in Indian Wells and Miami. The 23-year-old last competed at a WTA 1000 tournament in Montreal in early August, where she suffered a first-round defeat to Camila Giorgi. Throughout the match, Andreescu struggled with a back injury but chose not to retire in front of her home crowd.
After missing the US Open and the rest of the 2023 season, Andreescu also announced her withdrawal from the Australian Open in mid-December. Having been sidelined for six months, her goal is to make a comeback at Indian Wells, which begins on March 6th.
“It’s progressing, but not at 100%. However, I am hopeful that I will be able to compete in Indian Wells,” said Andreescu, who won the tournament in 2019.
While Andreescu has been working hard to recover quickly, she acknowledges that rushing the process might not be beneficial for her injury.
“I have been using visualization techniques and meditation to try to expedite my recovery. However, with this type of injury, there is not much you can do other than rest,” explained Andreescu.
When asked if she followed the recent Australian Open, Andreescu admitted that watching tennis while being unable to play is not enjoyable. Nevertheless, she found it “nice” to observe the first Grand Slam of the season and get back into the tennis atmosphere.
Andreescu also shared her thoughts on Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner’s victories, expressing that she was not surprised by Sabalenka’s success but pleasantly surprised by Sinner’s impressive performance.
If Andreescu participates in Indian Wells this year, it will mark her fourth appearance at the tournament.