Bianca Andreescu not putting pressure on herself in return to tennis

Bianca Andreescu isn't putting pressure on herself to play her best tennis as she returns from more than a year off with knee injury, but does want to have a good attitude.

The 20-year-old Canadian played her first event since the 2019 Shiseido WTA Finals Shenzhen when she competed at the Australian Open, falling in the second round. She then withdrew from WTA events in Doha and Dubai but is scheduled to play this week at the Miami Open.

"I am the type of person to always set high expectations for myself. But, now my main goal is to just be happy and just enjoy myself as much as I can. Even if my tennis feels off," Andreescu told press in Miami.

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The former No. 4, who won the 2019 US Open, said "feeling good" on court would also help her with any nerves upon her return.

"I think that's that main thing that's going to help me get rid of that," said the typically confident Andreescu. "There is some doubt always, I am trying my best to get rid of that. It's not easy as a process but I am working a lot on that."

Having experienced frequent injury problems during her young career, she has delayed her comeback repeatedly this time around but said, "I am a professional athlete that's wearing and tearing her body so it's normal to have pains here and there and it's not like I am the only one that's retiring from tournaments.

"There's so many players that do the same. But I am feeling confident going into the tournament and trying always my hardest."

Ranked No. 9, she is the eighth seed in Miami.