Bianca Andreescu is back - but what comes next?

The Canadian played her first event in almost six months

Expectations often shape how we experience entertainment — sports are no exception.

It’s like the film hyped to no end before its release—only to fall flat when you expected groundbreaking cinema, and got two hours of merely above-average viewing.

The pressures of performing undoubtedly have affected Canada’s Bianca Andreescu over the years, as she’s sought to replicate the remarkable results she achieved in 2019. Hard to believe? It really wasn’t so long ago. She took down Angelique Kerber to win Indian Wells, won on home soil in Toronto, and defeated the Serena Williams in the finals of the U.S. Open. An abbreviated season still allowed her to reach world No. 4 and compete at the WTA Finals.

So much time has passed and now those expectations have mostly vanished. Andreescu was back on a tennis court and competing in a professional match for the first time in nearly six months this past week and that felt like a blessing of sorts, given all she’s been through.

The latest trials and tribulations? Andreescu’s back acted up in the late stages of 2024 and she opted to skip the Aussie summer to begin 2025. A freak bout of appendicitis that required emergency surgery would further delay her planned return to the tour in late February. After some rest and recovery, she opted to make an official comeback during the clay court season.

So, what are the expectations now that she is back?