Bianca Andreescu Returns to WTA Tour in Stuttgart
There has been quite a lot of buzz surrounding Bianca Andreescu’s return to action after 6 months away from the game for a “mental break.”
The former US Open Champion chose the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart, a WTA500 event on indoor clay to make her return. Starting her 2022 season in April is a unique way to do it, but Bianca told us that she has found her balance mentally with the sport and is in love with the game again and eager to compete.
Bianca Andreescu’s exclusive interview with Stephen Boughton from The Slice Tennis.
Andreescu Beats Niemeier in Stuttgart
Bianca explained to The Slice that she had a 7 week training block as a pre-season, the longest by far that she’s ever taken. With coach Sven Groeneveld by her side, Andreescu has a very solid base to kick start her 2022 campaign.
Her training and prep has shown, as she looked very fit and surprisingly not rusty in her practiced in Stuttgart leading up to her 1st round match.
In her match vs Jule Niemeier, a WC from Germany who has a big game, Bianca was able to come back in the first set, win the tie break and the pull away in the second set.
Andreescu played a clean match for it being her first in 6 months:
Stats: 22 Winners, 17 Unforced Errors, and 69% 1st serves in.
WTA Hightlights, Bianca Andreescu defeats Jule Niemeier in Stuttgart Round 1.
Why Did Andreescu Take 6 months off?
Bianca told reporters that she took the time off to focus on herself as she was having a very hard time mentally while competing on tour in 2021. She cited the effects of family being affected by COVID infections as one of the main factors.
She also said after her win that she would “hate herself” if she lost and “love herself” if she won, and knew that was an unhealthy place to be in.
In Bianca’s 6 months away she spent lots of time with family and friends, travelled the world for fun, went on retreats and even took up some martial arts lessons.
Andreescu plays the 3 seed Aryna Sabalenka in the 2nd Round at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix on Thursday.
Stephen Boughton