Not ready to make a comeback, Bianca Andreescu withdraws from Doha

World no. 5 and the US Open champion Bianca Andreescu will skip the WTA Premier 5 event in Doha, still dealing with a left knee injury suffered at the last year's WTA Finals. The Mississauga native was one of the players of the season in 2019, starting from outside the top-150 and earning a place in the top-5 following a Major crown and two other notable titles, showing her best tennis against the rivals from the top-10 and in the most important encounters. Bianca experienced the ultimate tennis glory but also two serious injuries, overcoming the first but still dealing with the latter one that has caused a delay of her 2020 campaign. Thirteen months ago, the young Canadian qualified for the main draw at the ASB Classic in Auckland and reached the first WTA final, making the main draw in Melbourne as well for a debut at Majors, scoring one victory before losing to world no. 12 Anastasija Sevastova.

Following the 125K crown in Newport Beach, Bianca stunned the tennis world at Indian Wells, earning a massive title as the youngest champion since Serena Williams and hoping for more of the same in Miami. Facing Anett Kontaveit in the fourth round in Florida, Andreescu suffered a shoulder injury that forced her to skip almost all the action until August, playing just one match at Roland Garros and making a return at home in Toronto, eager to get back on the winning way. Ready to continue where she left in March, Andreescu defeated three top-10 rivals en route to the trophy, becoming the national hero and gaining momentum ahead of the US Open where she conquered the first Major crown and wrote history as the first teenager with a Grand Slam title since 2006 and Maria Sharapova! Reducing the schedule after New York to avoid potential injuries, Bianca lost to Naomi Osaka in the quarter-final in Beijing, setting eyes on the WTA Finals in Shenzhen where she made a debut as the youngest player in the draw.

Squandering a massive opportunity against Simona Halep in the first encounter at the premium WTA event, Andreescu had to retire against Karolina Pliskova following a nasty left knee injury, ending the season and withdrawing from the ASB Classic where she was supposed to kick-off 2020. Unable to get some practice hours, Bianca decided to skip the Australian Open as well, traveling with the Canadian team to the Fed Cup tie against Switzerland in Biel but not playing any rubbers despite being names for the doubles squad when the draw came out. Still not reaching her 100%, Bianca had to withdraw from Dubai and Doha, working hard on a comeback and hoping to defend the title in the desert in March.

"I'm very sad to announce that I won't be able to compete in the Qatar Total Open in Doha next week. I'm not at 100 % yet, and following my team and doctor's recommendation, I don't want to take any risk to reinjure my knee. Each day I get closer to being back to the court competing, but Doha is just too soon. Hope I can come and play in Doha next year," said Andreescu.

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/32a6a6t