Bianca Andreescu targets Indian Wells to end four-year wait for title
After a string of early exits recently, Bianca Andreescu is determined to make a noteworthy comeback at the upcoming BNP Paribas Open. She has already lifted the trophy at the tournament once in 2019.
Although all three of the Canadian player's titles are among the most prestigious, they all came in the same year — 2019.
Andreescu won her first singles title at Indian Wells (WTA 1000), which was followed by a victory at the Canadian Open (WTA 1000). However, her biggest triumph remains the 2019 US Open, where she defeated 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams in straight sets in the final.
The World No. 36, who turned pro in 2017, has struggled with her form since her dreamlike season in 2019. She has only reached the finals twice (the 2021 Miami Open and the 2022 Bad Homburg Open) and she lost on both occasions.
Since winning the US Open, Andreescu is yet to reach the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam tournament.
Earlier this week, the former World No. 4 faced a 6-3, 6-4 defeat against reigning Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina. It came in the first round of the WTA 1000 Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
Ready to forget the past, Andreescu recently took to social media to reveal that she was focusing on the 2023 Indian Wells. The tournament is scheduled to be played from March 8-19.
"Time to heal up and get back at it. Indian Wells is right around the corner," Andreescu tweeted.
🏼 
Time to heal up and get back at it 💪🏼
Indian Wells is right around the corner 👀 https://t.co/8AqOKkLfKr
Iga Swiatek cites examples of Naomi Osaka and Bianca Andreescu for showing consistency at the top
During one of the press conferences at the recently-concluded Qatar Open, Iga Swiatek was asked about consistency in women's tennis. The World No. 1 suggested that she wasn't the first consistent player, with Naomi Osaka and Bianca Andreescu having performed well in the past.
"I don't really know how to judge that because on the other hand, there were also really consistent players like three, four years ago, like Naomi or Bianca Andreescu. But we will see what's gonna happen in the future," Swiatek said.
"For sure my goal is to be consistent, and it was since the beginning. I wish I could kind of, like from 2021, I just wanted to be consistent but on a higher level, like be in semifinals, finals. For sure, last season kind of showed that I can do that. But right now I want to kind of come back to the balance and also know that I'm not gonna win every tournament," she added.
Swiatek defeated Andreescu 7-6(2), 6-0 in their only meeting so far in the 2022 Italian Open quarterfinals.