The 21 & Under Club in '21: Bianca Andreescu

Will turn 22 on

• 6/16/2022

What she’s done since last summer

• Returned from injury at the 2021 Australian Open
• Reached the Phillip Island Trophy semifinal
• Finished runner-up to Ashleigh Barty at the Miami Open

Key Stat

• Andreescu won her first eight matches against Top 10 players

If the 20-year-old is in the draw, she’s a favorite to win the tournament. Unfortunately for Andreescu, getting in the draw has proven more challenging than her Top 10 ranking would suggest, as injuries have consistently conspired to keep her off the court—often for months at a time.

“It seems that I'm kind of the only one that keeps getting asked questions about injuries, which is super annoying,” she admitted in Miami. “I don't want for me to have a reputation of that, because it's not only me that's getting injured.”

Injuries are nonetheless essential plot points in the Andreescu story, for when she’s not injured, she’s winning. A 2018 back injury delayed her transition from juniors to the WTA, and a shoulder injury sandwiches her breakout BNP Paribas Open and the summer streak that took her to the US Open title.

A torn meniscus and later a foot injury—and a global pandemic in between—rendered the following season entirely unplayable, and yet Andreescu defied expectations once again when she finished runner-up at the Miami Open, just her third tournament since 2019.

A turned ankle against Ashleigh Barty could have been another turning point; instead it was an opportunity to show just how much she matured after 15 months away.

“I want to look ahead in my career. I'm only 20. I'm not trying to risk anything right now. I already have a couple years ago, and I didn't want to make that same mistake again.”

Optimal fitness will be crucial as she prepares for her first proper crack at clay, a surface on which her unique combination of power, variety, and athleticism may prove even more potent.

“I'm feeling confident. Like, yeah, sometimes my game is not always going to be there, but I clutch it out during those times, like I'll figure it out. And sometimes I'll be on court and I'll feel totally great. But that's just a challenge of playing sports in general. And I'm here for it, and I want to be here for it for a long time.”

Barring another “freak accident,” Andreescu, who is playing her first grass-court season, will likely be in quite a few draws in the next few months. And if she is, watch out.