Bianca Andreescu has stepped away from the WTA main draw to compete on the ITF circuit, a deliberate reset after injury and inconsistency derailed the Canadian's career following her 2019 U.S. Open triumph. Ranked No. 159 at Roland-Garros qualifying, Andreescu defeated 17-year-old French wildcard Daphnée Mpetshi Perricard 6-3, 6-2 in her opening qualifying match, continuing a season built primarily on lower-tier events designed to restore match rhythm and physical continuity.
Why Andreescu chose the ITF route
Andreescu acknowledged that the decision to drop down to ITF events was not straightforward, partly because ego and status concerns had prevented her from considering the move in previous seasons. She told RolandGarros.com that similar opportunities had been available before but rejected: "We had options of doing that last year and even the year before, but my ego definitely got in the way of that." She explained that she had to set those concerns aside because her previous approach was not delivering results. "I knew deep down I was supposed to be at those ITFs and hopefully it makes for a good comeback story," she said.
What the ITF season has yielded
Andreescu's strategy has produced tangible outcomes. She captured titles at W35 Bradenton and the WTA 125 event in Austin, while also reaching the semifinals in Weston. These results built the foundation for her entry into Roland-Garros qualifying, where she entered ranked No. 159. The approach marked a significant shift for a player who had operated within the top tier of the tour for years but was necessary after a series of injuries and setbacks.
The path from 2019 to now
Andreescu won the U.S. Open in September 2019 at age 19, defeating Serena Williams on Arthur Ashe Stadium. A knee injury halted her momentum in early 2020 before the global pandemic shut down the sport, sidelining her for 16 months. Subsequent abdominal and ankle issues, combined with an appendectomy that delayed her 2025 season, sent her ranking plummeting to No. 228 earlier in 2026. At the beginning of 2026, she made the decision to drop down to the ITF tour for the first time since 2018, leaving behind the WTA main draw structure.
Sources
- Yardbarker: 'I knew deep down I was supposed to be at those ITFs': Bianca Andreescu on rebuilding her career step by step. Published 2026-05-20.
- Kursiv.media: Bianca Andreescu's Journey Back to the Top. Published 2026-05-19.
Reported from public sources.