Andreescu Garners First WTA Tour-Level Win In Eight Months At Charleston Open

Bianca Andreescu
Bianca Andreescu (photo: Charleston Tennis LLC)

CHARLESTON, S.C./WASHINGTON, April 1, 2026 (by Michael Dickens)

Bianaca Andreescu is a beloved and accomplished tennis player – a 2019 US Open titlist, winner of three WTA Tour titles and a former World No. 4 – who has slowly been working her way back from a rash of injuries.

Since winning her first and only major nearly seven years ago, Andreescu’s list of injuries include: tearing two ligaments in her left ankle (2023), a significant back injury (2024) and various knee issues. Plus, she underwent an emergency appendectomy last year.

Combined, Andreescu’s injuries have added up to several extensive breaks in her career. She’s missed five-plus months with injuries four different times since winning her US Open title and has been ranked outside the Top 20 since October 2021.

However, the 25-year-old Canadian, who hits with power and variety when she’s healthy, has been willing to drop down to the lower rungs of tennis to put in the work necessary in order to come back to the WTA Tour mentally and physically fit. The bottom line: Andreescu wants to play matches and to re-affirm her love of tennis. The Credit One Charleston Open this week in the South Carolina Lowcountry is providing Andreescu with an opportunity to play, thanks to granting her a wild card entry.

“I just try to take everything as a challenge, rather than a setback,” Andreescu told reporters during a pre-tournament media roundtable at LTP Daniel Island on Monday.

At the beginning of 2026, the 25-year-old 140th-ranked Andreescu dropped down to the ITF Circuit to boost her confidence and re-build her game. And guess what? She won a pair of titles in Florida: a W35 at Bradenton and a W75 at Vero Beach.

Then, in her first WTA Tour event of the year, Andreescu was a finalist at a 125-series event Austin, Texas, in early March. Three of her four wins there came against players who are competing in this week’s Charleston Open field – Solana Sierra, Renata Zarazua and Paula Badosa. 

Coming into her first-round match Tuesday against 84th-ranked Hungarian Dalma Galfi, a former ITF junior world champion, Andreescu carried an 18-5 win-loss record this year at all levels – the most wins in a season for her since 2022, when she won 20. She’s also lifted her ranking over the past two-and-a-half months from No. 228 to No. 140.

“I wanted to do that back in 2024, but I guess we can say my ego got in the way of that,” Andreescu said Monday, explaining her decision to play on the ITF Circuit. “I decided that maybe it’s time to put that aside and really get what I’ve been needing, which is matches. It’s never guaranteed that you’ll be getting a lot of matches – the level on the ITF circuit is huge, I think. They’re fighting for a lot.

“Looking back at how I feel being on the WTA Tour, it’s more comfortable, right? You get more benefits being on the WTA Tour, so mentally you maybe relax a little bit. But on the ITF tour, I mean, it’s do-or-die. These players are barely breaking even. I proved to myself that I can play match after match and feel good. I played 14 matches in 16 or 17 days, and my body felt great.”

By the conclusion of Andreescu’s opening match on Credit One Stadium, her first on clay this season, there was sweet relief on her face. That’s because she earned her first WTA Tour-level win since last July with an impressive 1-6, 6-4, 6-1 come-from-behind victory over Galfi in an hour and 59 minutes.

The victory by Andreescu, which avenged an early-season loss to Galfi at a WTA 250 in Austin, Texas, snapped a five-match tour-level losing streak. It advanced her to face 47th-ranked No. 16 seed Sofia Kenin of the United States who, like Andreescu, is a former Grand Slam champion, on Wednesday.

After going 0-for-11 in break point chances, Andreescu broke Galfi two times in a row to pull out the second set 6-4 and to force a decider. Soon, Andreescu broke Galfi for a third-consecutive time to grab a 3-1 advantage. She consolidated the break for a 4-1 lead and broke her Hungarian opponent in the sixth game for a 5-1 lead. Suddenly, the finish was in focus for Andreescu – and she wasted little time in putting away the victory. From start to finish, Andreescu remained calm and went about problem-solving Galfi that resulted in a satisfying victory.

Andreescu, whose most recent tour-level win came last July 27 against Barbara Krejcikova of Czechia at the WTA 1000 Rogers Cup in Montreal during which she sustained an ankle injury that sidelined her for two months, finished her victory over Galfi by hitting 23 winners to 23 unforced errors. She converted four of 15 break-point chances and outpointed her opponent 84-71. Galfi countered with 27 winners but also made 37 unforced errors.

“I didn’t expect anything easy [from Dalma], I just gave it my best,” Andreescu said during her on-court interview. “I had the right intentions, tried to stay as positive as possible. The crowd was amazing and I’m happy to be here.”

Andreescu was asked what she was happiest about in achieving her first tour-level win of the season.

“I think at the end of the day, it’s the effort that counts for me,” she said. “If I’ve given the best that I could in that day – which I think I did – that’s the most important thing. Also, intention. That’s what I speak about with my coach every single day. If I can [achieve] those two things, then, win or lose, it doesn’t matter to me. I just have to be just pleased with that.”

Later, during her post-match news conference, Andreescu expanded upon her on-court remarks.

“My whole mindset is effort and intention in everything that I’m doing, whether it’s my routines, supplementation, food, all of that, and being on the court, of course,” she said.

“I’m not trying to focus too much on winning or ranking or, you know, I guess, the outcome of things. And just staying healthy as much as possible, and that alone takes away from, I guess, the fear of winning or losing. … My team is obviously helping with that, and they’re making practice more fun. Yeah, it’s all about the process. … Good vibes all the way.”

Badosa healthy and happy on court, again

Wild card Paula Badosa of Spain, a former World No. 2 who is now ranked No. 113, is healthy again – and it means so much to her. After missing the Charleston Open last year while dealing with a severe torn labrum in her right hip, the 28-year-old New York-born Spaniard has returned to the WTA Tour and is starting to regain her stride, if not her happiness.

Tuesday afternoon on Credit One Stadium, Badosa defeated 162nd-ranked American qualifier Kayla Day, 6-4, 6-3, in an hour and 35 minutes to even her tour-level win-loss record at 8-8. Crafty on clay with some timely drop shots, Badosa hit 25 winners to overcome 29 unforced errors, converted five of 11 break-point chances and benefited from 31 unforced errors by Day. She outpointed her opponent 69-55.

During her on-court interview, Badosa was asked how much it meant to her to be healthy and to be able to move about the court, again. “It means the world for me,” she said. “I was very, very sad last year that I had to withdraw from this tournament because of the injury.

“Coming back today felt really nice. It’s a very special tournament. I love the crowds. They’re always super supportive of me. They have so much passion for tennis. This is one of my favorite stops of the year. I really enjoy it.”

Later, during her post-match news conference, Badosa added: “Pretty good on my body. I felt pretty good on court. I think I was moving pretty well, honestly, and I think my game suits very good on clay. So, I’m being pretty positive and, hopefully, I can get a lot of matches under my belt.”

On Wednesday afternoon, Badosa will face No. 10 seed Maria Sakkari of Greece, whom she has faced three previous times (1-2). “We’ve known each other for a long time. She’s a player I respect a lot,” Badosa said. “We’ve had some battles, so for sure, tomorrow is going to be a tough one. I like these kinds of challenges.”

Around the Charleston Open

Tuesday’s night session in Credit One Stadium featured World No. 12 and third seed Belinda Bencic of Switzerland, who held off 49th-ranked first-day winner Dayana Yastremska of Ukraine, 6-2, 6-7 (5), 6-3, in two hours and 28 minutes. The 2022 Charleston Open champion Bencic struck 22 winners, made just 13 unforced errors, converted five of 11 break points and outpointed Yastremska 105-90.

Bencic went from being up 6-2, 4-2 to letting Yastremska, who hit 33 winners and converted two of five break points, back into the match. Eventually, the Tokyo Olympic Games gold medalist came on strong in the final set to record her 13th victory of 2026.

“Always tricky the first match, of course. I’m happy with the win, with how I fought it out,” Bencic said during her post-match news conference. “I still thought some things could be better. I don’t think I was mentally very good today. I was a bit grumpy. And, yeah, I hope to improve that in the next round.”

Other Tuesday winners: 

• No. 8 seed Anna Kalinskaya of Russia, who is first through to the third round after ending the run of 169th-ranked Bulgarian qualifier Viktoriya Tomova, 6-2, 6-4, in one hour and 19 minutes on Credit One Stadium. The World No. 22 Kalinskaya hit 29 winners and converted seven of nine break points. She outpointed Tomova, who had strung together three straight wins starting from weekend qualifying, 71-55.

“I’m very happy with my win today, especially playing the first match on clay,” Kalinskaya said during her news conference. “It’s always tricky. I’m happy with my backhand today and looking forward to the next round.”

Next, Kalinskaya will face either wild card Paula Badosa or No. 10 seed Maria Sakkari, who play Wednesday afternoon.

• No. 13 seed Sara Bejlek of Czechia, who ended the dream run of 19-year-old American qualifier Akasha Urhobo in the second round. The 40th-ranked Bejlek defeated No. 273 Urhobo, 6-1, 6-1, in 65 minutes on Court 3. Bejlek won 78 percent (25 of 32) of her first-serve points, saved all four break points she faced and broke Urhobo’s serve five times in six opportunities. She outpointed Urhobo 59-39 and next will face No. 3 seed Belinda Bencic in the third round on Thursday.

• No. 89 Yuliia Starodubtseva of Ukraine, who advanced over No. 62 Zhang Shuai of China, 6-3, 6-0, in 52 minutes on Althea Gibson Court. Starodubtseva, who won the final seven games of the first-round match, dropped just two points on her first serve and broke Zhang’s serve four times. She outpointed her opponent 56-27. Next, Starodubtseva will face No. 2 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova of Russia Wednesday evening.

• No. 103 Ashlyn Krueger, who upset 69th-ranked Caty McNally in an all-American battle, 6-4, 1-6, 6-3, in two hours and 23 minutes on Althea Gibson Court. Krueger converted eight of 16 break points despite being outpointed 93-90 by McNally. Next, Krueger will face another American, No. 17 seed Peyton Stearns, in Wednesday’s second round.

• Qualifier Polina Kudermetova of Uzbekistan, ranked No. 156, who rallied to defeated 71st-ranked Oleksandra Oliynykova of Ukraine, 3-6, 7-6 (1), 6-4, in two hours and 22 minutes on Althea Gibson Court. The younger sister of former Top-10 Russian Veronika Kudermetova, Polina Kudermetova converted seven of 13 break points and outpointed her opponent 112-109. Next, Kudermetova will face No. 9 seed Leylah Fernandez of Canada in the second round on Wednesday afternoon.

• Lucky loser Yuan Yue of China, ranked No. 121, won the longest match of the tournament – three hours and 13 minutes – over No. 102 Mayar Sherif of Egypt, 2-6, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (5), on Court 3 to advance to the second round. Yuan, who replaced ill Elise Mertens of Belgium in the main draw on Monday, saved eight of 12 break points against Sherif. She won despite being outpointed 121-114. Next, Yuan will face No. 14 seed Elisabetta Cocciaretto of Italy on Wednesday morning.

• In doubles, No. 1 seeds Aleksandra Krunic of Serbia and Zhang Shuai of China eliminated Indonesia’s Aldila Sutjiadi and Janice Tjen, 7-6 (3), 7-5, in one hour and 33 minutes on Court 3 to advance to the quarterfinal round.

In other first-round doubles match-ups: Ekaterine Gorgodze of Georgia and Renata Zarazua of Mexico advanced to the quarterfinals with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Sabrina Santamaria and Peyton Stearns of the United States in 66 minutes on Court 3. Also, Jennifer Brady of the United States and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand reached the last eight by beating Americans Asia Muhammad and Jessica Pegula, 6-4, 7-6 (4), in one hour and 43 minutes on Court 3. Desirae Krawcyzk and Caty McNally of the United States defeated Alexa Guarachi of Chile and Sofia Kenin of the United States, 7-6 (3), 6-3, in one hour and 33 minutes to advance to the quarterfinal round; and Anna Bondar of Hungary and Magdalena Frech of Poland held off Leylah Fernandez of Canada and Kristina Mladenovic of France, 7-6 (2), 2-6, 11-9, in one hour and 42 minutes on Court 3 to advance to the quarterfinals.

Tuesday’s Charleston Open results 

Wednesday’s Charleston Open order of play

By the numbers

• World No. 12 and third seed Belinda Bencic is making her ninth appearance at the Charleston Open. In her debut appearance at this event, she reached the 2014 semifinals as a 17-year-old qualifier. Then, in 2022, she won the Charleston Open title by beating Ons Jabeur in the final. Bencic nearly defended her crown a year later but finished runner-up to Jabeur in a final rematch.

• All five Team USA Billie Jean King Cup Qualifiers members for its upcoming tie against Belgium are playing this week in the Charleston Open: Iva Jovic, Hailey Baptiste, McCartney Kessler, Caty McNally and Nicole Melichar-Martinez.

“Quotable …”

“It means so much, I’ve been dreaming of this moment for so long. To be able to come to a place like Charleston and finally get it done is a dream come true.”

– American qualifier Akasha Urhobo, 19, who won her first WTA Tour main-draw match on Monday, 7-5, 3-0, over Solana Sierra of Argentina, by retirement, speaking to Tennis Channel. 

 

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