Happy to be back, Bianca Andreescu targets Top 10 and WTA Finals

Bianca Andreescu is picking up where she left off from her title victory at Indian Wells. The 19-year-old, who returned this week from an injury layoff, is into the quarterfinals of Toronto.

She had not completed an event in between, retiring in her Miami fourth-rounder and withdrawing in the second round of the French Open with ongoing problems with her shoulder.

This week, Andreescu has defeated Kiki Bertens and Daria Kasatkina in addition to fellow Canadian Eugenie Bouchard, all in three sets. She can't decide if she's surprised or not.

"Being off for that long and coming into the Rogers Cup and getting into the quarterfinals means so much to me," Andreescu said. "But at the same time, I'm not surprised because I've been playing a lot of matches, especially at the beginning of the year. So I gained a lot of experience from that.

Still, she says she didn't know what her level would be like before the tournament began. "I wasn't expecting it, really," she said. "I was just really happy to be back on court."

Now, her goals are bigger. "I want to win it," she said in her on-court interview.

Andreescu will take on third seed Karolina Pliskova for a place in the Toronto semifinals. (Getty Images)

Andreescu acknowledged that the time off with injury had been frustrating. "Not playing and just watching everyone play and do well. It's the worst thing for an athlete," she said. "Like, even two weeks being off really sucks, but, I mean, that's part of the sport."

But she used the break for training, saying she's improved both on and off the court.

''Before the tournament I was feeling really good," she said. "But practice and matches are different, and I tried to implement what I've been working on, and it's been showing. So I'm really pleased with that.

"And I'm pleased with how my body is holding up, as well, especially after yesterday's match."

Andreescu vaulted from No. 60 to No. 24 with her surprise win at Indian Wells. And now she's back on tour, she is setting her sights higher, saying she wants " to break the Top 10."

"I really believe that I can do that. And play in the WTA Finals," she said.

Andreescu is No. 27 in the rankings and will rise at least five spots  as a result of reaching the Rogers Cup last eight.