Bianca Andreescu, the former US Open champion, has outlined her decision to compete in ITF-level events rather than pursue the WTA main draw in early 2025, a strategic reset aimed at rebuilding match fitness and consistency. Andreescu entered Roland-Garros qualifying ranked No. 159 after a season built primarily on lower-tier competition, and defeated 17-year-old French wildcard Daphnée Mpetshi Perricard, sister of Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, 6-3, 6-2 in her opening qualifying match.
Why did Andreescu skip the main tour early in the season?
Andreescu opted to begin her 2025 campaign in Florida at ITF level rather than compete in the Australian Open main draw or qualifying rounds. She captured titles at W35 Bradenton and the WTA 125 event in Austin, and reached the semifinals in Weston, building a foundation of match play at a controlled pace. According to RolandGarros.com, Andreescu acknowledged that ego had previously prevented her from making such a move in earlier seasons, even when the option existed. "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. "I basically had to put that to the side because whatever I was doing maybe it wasn't working."
What did Andreescu say about the strategy?
Andreescu described the decision as a necessary reset after previous approaches failed to deliver consistency. Speaking to RolandGarros.com, she stated: "I was definitely watching and paying attention and obviously wishing I could be there. But I knew deep down I was supposed to be at those ITFs and hopefully it makes for a good comeback story." The shift represented a significant departure for a player who had operated within the top tier of the tour for years, but she framed it as essential to her long-term recovery.
Andreescu's path through Roland-Garros qualifying continues, with her ranking and recent results suggesting a player in the early stages of a measured climb back toward the main tour structure.
Sources
- Tennisuptodate.com: "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.
Reported from public sources.