Wuhan WTA 1000: Andreescu, Valentova's Conqueror, One Step Away from Main Draw

The former rising tennis star, Bianca Andreescu, is fighting to regain her sparkle after devastating injuries.

Andreescu wants to return to her best level. Not spared from injuries since her US Open 2019 title, the Canadian is currently ranked 181st in the world.

After two months out due to an ankle injury sustained against Barbora Krejcikova in the first round of the Montreal WTA 1000, the 25-year-old player, who subsequently withdrew from her match against Mirra Andreeva and then from the US Open, made her return in Beijing last week.

Despite a good performance, she ultimately lost in two sets in the first round to Anna Bondar (6-4, 7-6). Invited by the Wuhan WTA 1000 organizers to participate in the qualifiers, Andreescu cleared the first-round hurdle after a win against the young Czech player Tereza Valentova (6-4, 6-2).

For a spot in the main draw, she will have to overcome Anastasia Zakharova, who eliminated Alycia Parks (6-4, 6-0). If she wins against the Russian, she would secure a second consecutive victory since June, when she reached the quarterfinals of the 's-Hertogenbosch tournament after defeating Joanna Garland (6-1, 6-3) and then Lulu Sun (6-0, 6-4) on grass.