Bianca Andreescu shared a list of uplifting and low moments from 2023 and asserted that it was a learning curve.
Andreescu rose to stardom following her groundbreaking success at the 2019 US Open when she became the first Canadian, male or female, to win a Grand Slam singles title. She has been ranked as high as World No. 4 - the peak of any Canadian player.
But sadly, her meteoric rise and instant success proved to be a flash in the pan, with injuries accounting largely for Andreescu's absence from the main tour. She has previously opened up about losing her love for the game amid mental health struggles.
After taking a six-month sabbatical between 2021 and 2022 in order to rediscover herself, Andreescu contemplated her long-term future in tennis and considered calling time on her playing career.
Although she returned to the courts with renewed vigor and new-found confidence, physical health struggles dictated the trajectory of her career. In a recent emotional post she shared on X (formerly Twitter), the one-time Grand Slam champion bid goodbye to 2023 with mixed emotions.
"I never thought I’d be where I am today at the beginning of the year. I had goals for my career and personal life that just didn’t go the way I thought. It was very saddening at first - thinking I’ve failed let myself down, but like that one person once said… that’s life."
"This year took so many turns. I’ve never felt so hurt. I’ve also never felt so happy. But the one thing that always keeps me going is continuously learning. So to end this year I want to share with you the moments where I’ve felt the most joy, sadness, and contentment. Enjoy."
In a thread, Andreesu documents when she walked off the court after being beaten by Camila Giorgi at her home tournament in Montreal. That remains to be her last outing on a match court because Andreescu suffered a stress fracture in her back, which forced her to end her season.
Andreescu also shared a photo from the Miami Open, where she looked happy to be back on the tennis court. It looked like she had turned a corner after reaching the round of 16 with wins over Emma Raducanu, Maria Sakkari, and Sofia Kenin.
However, a nasty tumble in the match against Ekaterina Alexandrova saw Andreescu being escorted from the court in a wheelchair. It was one of two retirements during the season and which clearly shook her.
The 23-year-old also shared multiple photos of her time away from the tennis courts, ranging from delight to despair. Andreescu aims to return to action in March at the earliest, ruling herself out from playing the 2024 Australian Open.
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