The BioFile: Bianca Andreescu

 Bianca Andreescu is ranked 225 by the WTA. She is the 2019 US Open champion, winner of three WTA singles titles, and is competing this week at the Bradenton ITF W35 at Inspiration Academy.

DOB: June 16, 2000 In: Mississauga, Ontario

First Tennis Memory: Back in the day I think I was under 9s I would play guys, girls would play against boys. And I remember it was my first ever tournament and I beat a guy - first ever tournament in London (Ontario). I remember that very clearly. He cried after. I was much taller than him. He was crying in the picture too [smiles].

Tennis Inspirations: I would definitely say Kim Clijsters, somebody I admired growing up. Even when she came back, I had the opportunity to also play doubles with her, this was in 2020 in Indian Wells, and then Covid hit. And even now we keep in contact, so it's really nice.

Last Book Read: I just finished. I re-read it. It's Don Miguel Ruiz, The Mastery Of Love. It's basically all about: Life is sharing love, receiving love from others, basically being like the mother taking care of everybody around you but not forgetting about yourself.

Current Car: Mercedes GLX (black), but my dream car is the Ferrari Roma Spyder, like a coupe.

First Famous Player You Met Or Encountered: Hmmm... Simona Halep. I took a picture with her when I was 13 or 14 at Wimbledon juniors. And I also looked up to her, being Romanian. It was cool.

Favorite Artists: I have a few I really like, Lil Wayne, I like Drake. And also Julia Wolf, she's an up-and-coming artist, it's more like indie rock. Getting into different kind of genres now.

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: These questions are funny [smiles]. I don't even remember when I got asked these types of questions. Birthday cake. Love it.

Greatest Moment Of Career: I know everybody expects me to say US Open, but honestly - it's now National Bank Open - but it was Rogers Cup. I think because it was my first time playing Serena, and also being at home was just incredible. Had my family and friends watching. Those were the courts I grew up on. I would say that, and then the US Open.

Most Painful Career Moment: I think... oh my gosh... too many... But the most painful... honestly, I think last year, when I twisted my ankle. Or in the Miami Open in 2023. I guess I just didn't expect those to happen. (Ankle?) Ankle, both ankles.

Favorite Tournaments: Indian Wells. US Open. And NBO. The ones I won I guess [smiles]. And I just love the atmosphere. I just love those tournaments. Indian Wells is one of the best.

Why Do You Love Tennis: I think I just love the challenge aspect of it. I think tennis is a great metaphor for life. It teaches you so much, as a kid, I guess the love changed. I love competing. I loved just hitting the ball, I loved making winners. Just basically expressing myself. Now it turned more into the challenge and grit aspect. And then overcoming those challenges. And then being able to inspire people, this is a beautiful thing I would say.

Funny Tennis Memory: I remember - honestly it gives me PTSD - now I don't care, when I was 14, I think you (her dad Nicu) were there. I lost my shoe during a match. It came off my foot. I just remember being so embarrassed. But now looking back it's really funny. And then I would say after I won US Open, somebody said they bet I think it was $50k on me to win. And then like the return was like $500,000. Something stupid like that. So I think I helped change someone's life [smiles].

And another was in under 12s or 14s, somewhere in the middle of nowhere, I forgot my shoes. And it was a drive. I think like an hour and a half drive - we would always do the drive after every match. And during the finals, when we got there, we realized I didn't have any shoes. So my opponent gave me her shoes and they were a size bigger too. I don't think I won. So don't forget your shoes, kids [smiles]. Moral of the story.

Best You Ever Felt On Court: I would say the first one that comes to mind - Beatriz Haddad Maia US Open 2021 or 2022. I just remember being in like complete flow... I was coming to the net, like, nothing mattered to me. That was the first one that comes into my head. And then against Muguruza at Indian Wells. It was like 0 and 1 and again, I was just like in the zone, flowing, I was there before the ball basically. It's like that kind of feeling... it's hard to get in the zone like that. That is what we are all kind of striving for but I think it happens very rarely. She was top 10 or 15 at the time.

Strangest Match: One of the ballkids or line judges fainted because it was so hot. An ITF in Kansas City or in that area. I played a lot of ITFs.

Favorite Sport Outside Tennis: I've been following a lot of hockey and basketball, not recently, more like a few years ago. But I want to get back into it.

People Qualities Most Admired: I think compassion, having composure, not only for other people but also for themselves. And being a tennis player, it's really hard but when a person shows great composure on the court and compassion for themselves, I think it's a great quality to have. And then vice versa, having compassion for the people around them. And then being very respectful for everybody no matter who they are, a waitress, a janitor or whoever it is. And then not taking themselves too seriously, because I feel like life is already so serious in general, they can keep like a light-hearted outlook on life... thank you, that was great (our interview).

Author's Note: As a matter of fact, this is one of the best Biofiles I have ever done with a pro tennis player, such thoughtful, detailed answers - and we did this after a three hour match at the Bradenton ITF today (win vs Malkia Ngounoue), her TV interview with ABC Suncoast News and then her 30 minute post match practice. Thanks to her dad, Nicu, and tournament director Abrie DuPlooy for helping set up this interview.