Former US Open Champ Bianca Andreescu wins pro title in Bradenton

While most of the tennis world is in Australia to play the season's first Grand Slam major tournament with millions of dollars at stake, Bianca Andreescu, the former 2019 US Open Champion, played in the low-level W35 ITF tournament last week at Inspiration Tennis Academy in Palma Sola for a total purse of $30,000 or $3,000 for the winner. Andreescu was joined by her father, Nicu, and her new coach, Dusan Vemic, a former ATP player and former coach of Novak Djokovic.

Andreescu won all five of her matches last week, including Sunday's final 62 75 vs American Vivian Wolff, ranked 325 in the world (the match had to be moved to IMG Academy indoor court due to a sudden rain wind storm which hit the site just minutes before the scheduled time of 10 am).

"So happy to be here. This win means a lot. I haven't won a title in so long," said Andreescu, the top seed in the tournament. "This one is very special. I'm so glad I came. Everybody has been great." The last title Miss Andreescu won was the 2019 US Open, where she beat Serena Williams.

The event was historic because there has never been another example of a former Grand Slam champion dropping all the way down to the ITF level. Andreescu is ranked high enough to try to qualify for the Australian Open, but she decided back in December to skip Australia and focus on "back to my roots" by playing ITFs, which she did early in her pro career.

For a Grand Slam champion to play in an ITF is a big risk because she is the only famous player in the Bradenton draw, and all of her opponents were inspired to try to beat such a famous and accomplished champion. Every match was a challenge, but Andreescu rose to it and only lost one set all week, in the opening round to Malkia Ngounoue, who is ranked 1223.

The Mississauga, Ontario native who owns a 2-0 pro record vs Serena Williams, is currently ranked 225 in the world and trying to return to the elite level of pro tennis after five years of injury struggles and tough luck.

The final point of the championship match featured a thrilling, extended rally, followed by an amazing volley winner by Andreescu to clinch the victory in style.

All week, Andreescu trained on the practice courts before each of her matches and sometimes after wins, also because she wanted to work on perfecting her form and feel of the ball.

The tournament director, Abrie DuPlooy, is no stranger to staging pro tennis; this was his sixteenth professional tournament. Despite some inclement weather, DuPlooy was happy with the week of hard-fought competition, which attracted two TV news reporters and "not one complaint from any player."

DuPlooy, who is also the director of Inspiration Academy, organized the event in just four and a half months with the help of three major sponsors. Solid Rock Construction, Reel Coastal Properties, and an anonymous concert promoter from Brazil who resides in Longboat Key.

It was a massive effort to produce the professional sports event, including logistics such as player and officials' hospitality, equipment for live-streaming each match, wiring for line-call technology, media promotions, tickets, and countless other important details. All the while, the tennis academy continued to operate for its junior players.

The tournament ran from Jan. 12-18.

Andreescu, who is sponsored by Nike and Yonex racquets, has previously won the US Open, Indian Wells, and Toronto titles, all in 2019, and almost $10m in prize money earnings. Andreescu's best career world ranking was no. 4.

Bradenton resident and Ontario native Kurt Carter met Andreescu after the final. "I got to talk to her after the match a little bit about the last time I saw her play in Montreal, she is such a beautifully warm person with a million-dollar smile. She shook my hand, and now I'm not going to wash it," he added with a smile.