Bianca Andreescu has a triumph in her return to the main draw of Wimbledon.

While the stars of world tennis battled under the spotlight of the Australian Open, Bianca Andreescu was experiencing the darker and lonelier side of the sport: the former US Open champion found herself, in January, competing in third-tier ITF circuit tournaments, in empty halls, with no ranking points and no guarantees for the future. Five months later, she is just one victory away from returning to the main draw of Wimbledon, proving that even the greatest may have to reinvent themselves in the shadows to return to the limelight.

Bianca Andreescu, currently 26 years old and ranked 180th in the world, defeated Switzerland’s Jil Teichmann, ranked 126th, on Wednesday in an epic battle lasting two hours and thirty-three minutes, winning 6-7(4), 6-1, and 6-4 in the second round of Wimbledon qualifying. The match, decided in the late afternoon, tested all of the Canadian’s physical and mental limits, as she squandered three match points while leading 5-1 in the third set and saw her opponent, visibly hampered by physical issues, recover two games before Andreescu sealed the victory on her sixth match point with a forehand winner down the line.


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The importance of this moment goes beyond the sporting result. After winning the US Open in 2019, Andreescu faced a series of misfortunes: a serious knee injury during the WTA Finals, a disruption caused by the pandemic, a lower back injury that sidelined her for nine months in 2023, and, in 2024, an emergency appendectomy that delayed the start of her season. It was only in April that she returned to competition, at a WTA 125 tournament in Rouen, beginning a challenging recovery journey that led her to the grass courts of Wimbledon, where she now seeks a return to the sport’s biggest stage.

“Playing these tournaments helped me develop more tools to cope in any environment. No one was watching, there were no stands, none of that. I am very grateful for that experience. All the adversity I faced helped me get through today’s tough match,” Andreescu explained in statements to the official Wimbledon website, highlighting how the solitude and absence of spectators at the ITF tournaments in Florida earlier in the season ultimately strengthened her competitive resilience.

At the end of her match against Teichmann, Andreescu did not hide her satisfaction with how she managed the pressure during the decisive moments. “I’m very happy with my focus, especially at the end. There was a lot of adversity today. The heat, obviously. She also faced difficulties, in a different way. I’m super happy with how I was able to close out the match. It wasn’t easy at all,” she stated, visibly relieved after securing her place in the final round of qualifying.

The mental approach she now displays was forged both on the grand stages and in empty venues. She recalls the 2019 US Open final when, at just 19 years old and ranked 15th, she defeated Serena Williams in Arthur Ashe Stadium, becoming the first Canadian to win a Grand Slam. “I’m trying to approach every match as if it were a Grand Slam final; that’s my mindset, but with a bit more enjoyment. Doing this in every match isn’t easy, but I always try to enter with that mentality. Every game is important, regardless of who is on the other side of the net,” the Canadian added, determined not to waste any more opportunities.

Andreescu’s journey at Wimbledon also holds symbolic significance, as it was at this tournament that, at just 17 years old, she qualified for the main draw of a Major for the first time. “This was the first Grand Slam I qualified for, so I have many good memories here. I really feel like I’m at a Grand Slam,” she recalled.

The challenge now is to secure a return to the main draw and prove that the fight for the top is not over yet. If she surpasses the final round of qualifying, Andreescu will compete in her first Major since the 2024 US Open, attempting to break through the third round barrier, her best result ever at Wimbledon, achieved in 2023 and 2024. Recent performances show that the Canadian is willing to do whatever it takes to return to the top, even if it means starting from scratch, with no one watching. The next round will be crucial to determine whether this resurgence culminates in a new chapter of glory at Wimbledon or if it will continue to be a patient process of rebuilding, away from the spotlight. One thing is certain: Andreescu has already proven that, in tennis, resilience and courage can be more valuable than any ranking.

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