‘I Literally Wanted to Quit This Sport’- Canadian Grand Slam Winner Bianca Andreescu Opens Up on Mental Health Issues

Bianca Andreescu had already proved herself when a gruesome injury pushed her to the sidelines. She claimed the title at the 2019 US Open against the 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams. Also, she became the first teenager to win a major title since Maria Sharapova in 2006. Therefore, several eyes were on her when she made a comeback from a year-long knee injury.

Though she failed to give impactful runs due to lost form and took a mental break because of the pressure of expectations. Andreescu was kept out of the sport for around six months and made a comeback this season. The Canadian tennis star shared how she felt during her sabbatical.

Bianca Andreescu shares her feelings

Andreescu, while speaking to the press before arriving at the US Open after skipping the Cincinnati Masters, shared how she felt when she opted for a break. “I literally wanted to quit this sport. It was so bad,” she said.

“I didn’t want to hear about tennis, or think about tennis, or anything even close to it for the first three months I was away. And then, after three months, I realized, ‘Oh s**t, I really do miss this. And I need it in my life.'”

Thereafter, she added, “Well, yeah, for a split second I’m thinking, ‘I just don’t want to continue like this. How is it ever going to get better?’ It was so great in 2019, and now I’m feeling like this. But my soul knew differently.” 

The Canadian stepped out of the circuit and returned to the embrace of her friends and family in December of 2021. Also earlier, she disclosed that she picked her guitar back for the duration.

Read More: “My Ultimate Goal in My Career Is to Be No.1” – Bianca Andreescu

After her break, she made a comeback through the WTA 500 event in Germany. The former world number four jumped back on the tour by participating in the clay-based Stuttgart Open.

Andreescu’s performances since her comeback

The clay season didn’t bring much to the right-handed tennis ace’s name. However, she did make it to the quarter-finals of the Italian Open, but then failed to execute the same in the following Grand Slam. She faced an initial round exit in the French Open.

Thereafter, Bianca Andreescu shined in the grass courts of the Bad Homburg Open. The 22-year-old fought for the title at the WTA 250 event. Though she couldn’t get the better of Cincinnati Masters champion Caroline Garcia in the final.

Watch this Story: Top five moments of Rafael Nadal at Monte Carlo Masters

Coming to the American swing of the year, the former US Open and Canadian Masters champion incurred a third round and round of 16 defeat, respectively, and was thrown out of the Silicon Valley Classic in the opening round.