Bianca Andreescu Echoes Emma Raducanu’s Struggles as She Rises to Form
In the high-stakes world of women’s tennis, where early Grand Slam glory often collides with the harsh realities of injuries and expectations, Bianca Andreescu and Emma Raducanu share a strikingly similar journey—one of meteoric highs followed by prolonged battles for consistency. Both won the US Open as teenagers, only to face years of setbacks that tested their resilience. Now, as Andreescu makes a steady resurgence in 2025, she’s openly empathizing with Raducanu’s ongoing challenges, highlighting how the British star “had it tougher” than she did after their respective triumphs. In a candid interview at the Wuhan Open, Andreescu reflected on the parallels, offering support and insight into the mental and physical toll of life in the spotlight.
Shared Trajectories: From US Open Glory to the Grind
Andreescu’s 2019 US Open win at age 19—stunning Serena Williams 6-3, 7-5 in the final—catapulted her to world No. 4 and a string of WTA 1000 titles in Indian Wells and Toronto. Raducanu, two years later at 18, became the first qualifier to claim a major, defeating Leylah Fernandez 6-4, 6-3 without dropping a set. Both stories captured global imagination, but the aftermath proved far less glamorous.
Andreescu’s career stalled with knee, ankle, and back injuries, sidelining her for months and dropping her to No. 177 by mid-2025. She missed the first three months of the year due to appendix surgery and illness, returning only in April with a wild card to the Stuttgart Open. Raducanu, meanwhile, has navigated wrist, ankle, and back surgeries since 2021, plummeting to No. 135 in 2024 before a 2025 resurgence with 28 wins and a climb to No. 30. Yet, her season ended abruptly with a Wuhan Open retirement due to dizziness, echoing recent match-point chokes in Seoul and Beijing.
“It’s crazy how similar our paths have been,” Andreescu told Tennis365 at Wuhan, where she’s competing in doubles after a singles second-round exit. “We both won the US Open young, then injuries hit hard. But coming from Britain, she’s definitely had it tougher than me. The fame, the pressure from sponsors… that must have been a lot.”
Andreescu’s Empathy: Pressure and the Need for Guidance
Andreescu, now 25 and ranked No. 31 after a strong clay-court swing including a Stuttgart semifinal, understands the unique burdens Raducanu faced. “For me, I definitely feel I could have done with a little more guidance after [the US Open win] and maybe I would have done things a little differently,” she admitted. Raducanu’s post-2021 scrutiny—fueled by British media expectations and endorsement deals—led to a coaching carousel and form dips, a pressure cooker Andreescu, as a Canadian, largely avoided.
The Wuhan chat, just before Raducanu’s retirement against Ann Li, underscored Andreescu’s wish to connect: “It’s great to see Emma coming back to the top, and she is playing some great tennis at the moment. She was close to beating Pegula last week, so that shows the level she is playing at.” Andreescu’s own return—her first full season since 2022—has seen her defeat top players like Maria Sakkari and Sofia Kenin in Miami, where she also beat Raducanu in the fourth round. “I would honestly really like to speak to her because of that, because of our similarities,” Andreescu added, suggesting mutual support could help both navigate the comeback trail.
Rising Forms: Hope Amid the Hurdles
Andreescu’s 2025 resurgence mirrors Raducanu’s: Both started late (Andreescu in April, Raducanu building from January) and have shown flashes of brilliance. Andreescu reached the Stuttgart semifinals and Miami fourth round, her first top-10 win over Sakkari a highlight. Raducanu’s Washington semifinal and Beijing third round (despite the Pegula loss) netted her a career-high No. 30, positioning her for an Australian Open seed.
Yet, challenges persist. Andreescu’s singles ranking hovers at No. 31 after a Wuhan doubles focus, while Raducanu’s Wuhan retirement—her first since 2023—raises fitness flags for the WTA Finals. Both echo the “tougher” post-Slam realities: Andreescu battled mental health amid injuries, while Raducanu has spoken of “demons” in closing matches.
| Player | US Open Win Age | 2025 Highlights | Current Ranking | Key Struggle |
|——–|—————–|——————|—————–|————–|
| Bianca Andreescu | 19 (2019) | Miami R4, Stuttgart SF | No. 31 | Injuries (knee, back); late start |
| Emma Raducanu | 18 (2021) | Washington SF, Beijing R3 | No. 30 | Match-point chokes; recent retirement |
A Bond of Understanding: Inspiration for the Comeback Trail
Andreescu’s empathy isn’t just talk—she’s reached out to Raducanu before, hoping they “help each other out” amid their “crazy” similarities. At 25 and 22, both are rebuilding with renewed purpose: Andreescu crediting her team’s support, Raducanu her coach Francisco Roig for serve tweaks. As the WTA Finals loom, their parallel rises offer mutual inspiration—proof that post-Slam slumps don’t define legacies.
In tennis’s unforgiving arena, Andreescu’s words remind us: The toughest opponents aren’t always across the net, but the pressures within. For Raducanu and Andreescu, echoing each other’s struggles is the first step to conquering them.
