Bianca Andreescu began her remarkable rise to prominence at last year’s ASB Classic in Auckland. Then 18, Andreescu stormed past former Grand Slam champions Caroline Wozniacki and Venus Williams to reach her first career final.
She won’t have a chance to take it a step further in 2020 as Andreescu has announced she will miss the event in order to rest the left knee that forced her to withdraw from the 2020 WTA Finals.
“I’m super disappointed about it,” said Andreescu. “I spoke to my team and I really have to do what’s best for my team right now. I had so many great memories there and I hope to create more in 2021.”
Andreescu, who became the first player ever to win a US Open singles title on her debut in 2019, was named the Canadian Press Female Athlete of the Year this week. She took all 68 votes recorded. The 19-year-old won three titles and finished the season ranked No.5 in the world, 147 places higher than where she started last year at Auckland.