'Queen' Bianca Andreescu in high spirits after reuniting with Canada's most-decorated Olympian Penny Oleksiak at Paris Olympics 2024
Canadian tennis star Bianca Andreescu looked in high spirits walking around the athletes’ village at the Paris Olympics on Friday. Clad in red, she was photographed alongside Penny Oleksiak and other athletes from the Great White North, basking in the festivities.
Andreescu is set to take part in her first-ever Olympic Games after having to withdraw from the previous edition in Tokyo back in 2020. Currently ranked No. 171 in the women's charts, she was granted a berth in the main draw thanks to her protected ranking.
Strolling around the village ahead of the opening ceremony on Friday, Andreescu was seen making the most of her first experience at the multi-sport event, alongside athletes from all around the globe.
She was, however, particularly stoked to be reunited with Canada's most decorated Olympian, Penny Oleksiak.
Equally excited to have bumped into the 2019 US Open Champion, Oleksiak took to her Instagram account to share a wholesome picture alongside Andreescu. Dressed in their bright red Canadian attire, the pair were all smiles and excited.
"Reunited w the queen @biancaandreescu_," Oleksiak wrote on her X handle.
Oleksiak is widely considered Canada's most decorated Olympian with 7 Olympic medals, including 1 Gold, 2 Silver, and 4 Bronze. She broke onto the scene in 2016 when she became the first Canadian to win 4 medals in the Summer Games.
Two knee surgeries and a shoulder injury in the last three years have meant that she's not qualified for an individual event in Paris. She will, however, be a part of the Canadian women's relay team for the 4x100m freestyle.
Bianca Andreescu's Paris Olympics 2024 1R opponent
Bianca Andreescu will take on Clara Tauson in a tantalizing first-round clash at the 2024 Paris Olympics on Saturday, July 27. The pair haven't faced off in professional competition.
Andreescu holds an 8-4 match record this season and will be competing in just her fourth tournament of the year after an injury layoff of nearly 10 months. She heads into the Olympics on the back of some encouraging results in recent weeks. She reached the third rounds in Roland-Garros and Wimbledon and the final in ‘s-Hertogenbosch.
Tauson, meanwhile, is 21-16 for the season. Her best result this year was reaching the fourth round of the French Open.
Andreescu is one of five Canadians taking part in the tennis competitions at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Unlike Felix Auger-Aliassime, Gabriela Dabrowski, Leylah Annie Fernandez, and Milos Raonic, Andreescu will focus solely on the singles event.