Bianca Andreescu Misses 2025 Australian Open, Delays Season Debut
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Bianca Andreescu won't start her 2025 season at the Australian Open, as she won't compete at the first Grand Slam of the season.
Andreescu's past few seasons were challenging. The Canadian player is still trying to get back to her best level, but she's struggling to put together a few consistent weeks of good tennis.
In 2024, she returned to the courts for the first time since August 2023. Her comeback happened at the end of May 2024, ending a nearly 10-month absence.
She started exceptionally, making the third round at the French Open and reaching the final at the Libema Open. Soon after that, however, Andreescu started struggling, losing five matches in a row before ending that streak at the Japan Open in Tokyo.
In Tokyo, she won two matches before eventually losing to Katie Boulter in the quarter-final of the WTA 500 event. After that, she was supposed to take part in the Billie Jean King Cup Finals, but she withdrew, and since then, the 24-year-old was not seen on the tennis courts.
Initially, she was signed up to compete in the qualifying of the 2025 Australian Open, but when the qualifying draw was released, and her name was not there, it seemed that Andreescu would not participate in Melbourne.
Still, there was a chance she received a wild card after an unknown withdrawal of some other player who received a wild card, but after the main draw was revealed as well, it became apparent that Andreescu wouldn't play at the 2025 Australian Open.
It marks her second consecutive absence from the opening Grand Slam of the season and her third absence in four years. In 2023, the Canadian reached the second round before losing to qualifier Cristina Bucsa.
At this moment, it's not clear why Andreescu doesn't participate in the "Happy Slam," as she has not communicated it via her social media accounts or in any different way.
One obvious reason might be an injury that is keeping her away from the courts. Another reason might be the need to play the qualifying. It wouldn't be the first time that a former Grand Slam champion would decide to skip the qualifying of a major or a WTA 1000 event, as Caroline Wozniacki and Emma Raducanu have both done it last year.
The last time Andreescu spoke about her career was when she penned The Players' Tribune article, in which she said she rediscovered her love for tennis.
"Thinking about my family makes me want to give every breath I have on court. When you play for others — for family, for country, and for everyone who has been through something — tennis becomes not like a game."
"It becomes your most important mission on earth. I’m not just playing for myself, I’m playing to inspire. Even if I lose, let’s say, if I give my best, then I’m still winning because people can see my faith and perseverance. And maybe they can feel their own version of that. This was the biggest realization I’ve come to."
"There was a time when I lost my joy in tennis. But I found it again. And I learned that I will always love tennis deep in my heart, no matter what. It has given me so much. So much that whenever I leave the tunnel and step out onto the court, I always feel a bit of that magic from before. I still think that anything is possible."
For now, Andreescu's name doesn't appear on the entry list for any of the upcoming tournaments. Her ranking (No. 130) also makes it challenging for her to enter any tournaments without having to play in the qualifying.
