Bianca Andreescu stood in a Toronto gym this week, her right arm raised, a plastic trophy gripped tightly in her fist. Six years earlier, she had lifted the US Open trophy in Arthur Ashe Stadium, glittering confetti raining down on her as Serena Williams collapsed to her knees. On Tuesday, she hoisted a $3,000 check and a smaller, less polished silverware piece—symbols of a journey she never imagined she’d take.
Her victory at the $3,000 ITF Women’s Circuit event in Toronto was the first tournament win of any kind since that US Open triumph. The prize money would barely cover a single night in a New York City luxury hotel, a stark contrast to the $3.9 million she earned for winning Flushing Meadows in 2019. Yet it was the $3,000—and the return to the grind—that mattered most.
Key Points
- 🏆 First WTA title since 2019 comes at a $3,000 ITF event
- ⏳ 2,307-day gap marks one of the longest title droughts in modern tennis
- 💰 Prize money equals 0.08% of her 2019 US Open earnings
Andreescu, now 25, has spent the past six years navigating a landscape far removed from the glamour of Grand Slams. When she left the top tier in 2020, she entered a world where players retrieve their own balls, share limited amenities, and chase modest paychecks. It was a deliberate choice—one she made to rebuild not just her game, but her confidence after a string of injuries and personal reckonings.
| Year | Title | Prize Money | Surface |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | US Open | $3.9 million | Hard |
| 2024 | ITF Toronto | $3,000 | Hard |
The Canadian has been open about the challenges of transitioning from phenom to veteran in a sport that demands immediate results. “You think you know everything at 19,” she said. “I’m not one to ask for help, but I wish I had more guidance after the US Open.” Her current coach, Dusan Vemic, described the transformation as inevitable: “She had to grow up fast—not just as a player, but as a person.”
💡 Pro Tip
Players returning from long layoffs should prioritize small-tournament circuits for match rhythm before targeting major events. The ITF route offers low-pressure reps without the scrutiny of WTA-level scrutiny.
Andreescu’s drop into the ITF ranks wasn’t just about competition—it was about finding the joy again. After knee surgery in early 2020 and a pandemic hiatus, she returned to the court in February 2021, six months after her last match. The rust showed. She lost her opening match in Mexico, then again in Guadalajara. The losses piled up, but so did the lessons.
- 📊 Andreescu is now ranked outside the top 100, her 2020 peak of No. 4 a distant memory
- 🔍 Her serve, once a weapon, has become inconsistent under pressure
- ⚠️ Injuries have sidelined her for 28 weeks since 2020, including a hip issue in 2023
The road back has been grueling. She played in 12 tournaments in 2023, winning just two matches. Her confidence eroded. “There were days I didn’t want to pick up a racket,” she admitted. But by mid-2024, she began targeting smaller events, focusing on rhythm rather than results. The shift paid off this week, when she defeated qualifier Mia Radulovic 6-3, 6-2 in the final.
📋 By The Numbers
- 6 years — Time since Andreescu’s last title
- $3.9 million — 2019 US Open earnings, once the highest of her career
- 0.08% — Ratio of her 2024 ITF prize to 2019 Grand Slam earnings
- 28 weeks — Total time injured since 2020
Her victory in Toronto signals more than a return to winning—it hints at a potential resurgence. The ITF circuit has given her the chance to rediscover her game without the weight of expectations. “I’m not the same person I was at 19,” she said after the match. “But maybe that’s the point.”