Bianca Andreescu is clear on what she wants from 2023: to play a full season.

So far, it has been a luxury the Canadian has yet to enjoy in her career, but the 2019 US Open champion is hopeful she can finally be a regular fixture on tour this upcoming season.

Andreescu began her season in dramatic fashion, coming back from 6-0, 5-2 to defeat Garbiñe Muguruza 0-6, 7-6(3), 6-1 in the first round of the Adelaide International. 

Adelaide: Andreescu grabs come-from-behind win over Muguruza

Ranked 46 in the world with an eye on making a return to the Top 10, Andreescu, 22, recently spoke to Reem Abulleil from the sidelines of the World Tennis League exhibition in Dubai to discuss her offseason, her preparations for 2023, her new team and the goals they’ve set together.

Tell me about your offseason, what was it like?

Andreescu: I took two weeks off and I went to Portugal and then Jamaica. Portugal was just like relaxation work, and then in Jamaica I wanted to do some charity work, because it just brings me back down to earth and helps me stay grounded. I met with some underprivileged children. I hit with them and I read them my book and I each gave them a book as well. It was really nice to do that, it was their first time picking up a tennis racquet. So I was just super happy, it put a big smile on my face and yeah just giving back to the community is always deep in my heart.

What’s the message you hope to convey through your picture book “Bibi’s Got Game”?

Andreescu: I basically just wrote about my life story in a way and I wanted to bring some insight in what you can do during tough times. I’ve had some in my short career and I wanted it to be more programmed to children because I think everything starts at a young age. So if they can have that programmed, just like little subliminal messages in their head, I think can go a long way. I’ve been getting great feedback off of it and who knows, maybe I’ll do like a little sequel or something.

So when and where did you start your preseason training?

Andreescu: I started my preseason training toward the end of November. I started in Monaco then came here to Dubai.

You have a brand new team on board, spearheaded by Christophe Lambert. How has that been going?

Andreescu: I’m very, very pleased with who I have on my team. They’re all French, so hopefully my French can improve this time. I keep saying in Montreal, like next year, the year after, I’m going to keep getting better but it’s not working. But hopefully now it’s going to work. Other than that I think we all get along very well. My fitness trainer, my physio (Jean Pierre and Baptiste) and Christophe, they’ve all known each other for a really long time, so the chemistry there between them is great, communication is awesome. We’re always laughing, so that’s great.

What are some of the things you wanted to focus on this preseason?

Andreescu: There’s a lot that went into it. I wanted to have everything maximized because I know four weeks, four and a half weeks isn’t like the best timing. But I wanted to do fitness testing first, so I did the fitness testing, because I haven’t done that in a really long time. And everything is very factual now, and I already feel like I’m getting leaner and getting stronger in just like three weeks, and I’m really looking forward to the new season.

For those of us who aren’t professional athletes, what kind of information does fitness testing give you?

Andreescu: You put an oxygen mask on and it basically tells you how strong you are cardiovascular-wise; that one was the hardest, I almost died after that. And then obviously strength, in anything, like upper body, lower body, shoulder strength, all of that. And basically they take your highest rep and weight, on how much you can do, let’s say on squats, and then you kind of use that for max reps. So you do four, and then you take a rest for three minutes, and then four, and that’s how you build the muscle. But obviously when it gets close to competition you slow it down a bit, do more reps and stuff like that. There’s a lot that goes into it for sure.

Are you interested in that kind of stuff, or do you just leave it to your fitness trainer to handle all that?

Andreescu: Half and half. Sometimes it’s too scientific for me, but I love learning about new things, so I’m definitely interested.

What’s high up on your priority list for 2023, what do you hope to achieve?

Andreescu: Another Grand Slam would be nice, another 1000, staying healthy, playing the whole year basically. Because I don’t think I’ve had like a full, full year of playing all the tournaments I wanted to. I think that should be number one right now. And then cracking the Top 10 again because I do believe that I’m at that level.

So when you are on court now, do you feel that Top 10 goal is close?

Andreescu: Practice is so different than playing matches. I always say in practice I feel amazing and then matches come around, and it’s a little bit different sometimes. So hopefully the beginning of the season can really, really tell me if I’m up there. But mentally I know I am. So hopefully like the physical part and the tactical part can all go together.

How much do you look at some of the women at the top, like Iga Swiatek or Ons Jabeur, does it help to pay a bit of attention to what they’re doing? Does it inspire you at all?

Andreescu: The competition definitely inspires me and motivates me even more. Seeing Iga, she’s younger than me and has three Grand Slams. I’m trying to get up there, I’m trying to beat that. But in like a friendly way. Because it’s like, and I actually heard this from a few players, where I kind of inspired them in 2019. So now it’s like the roles are reversed, which I really like.

Seeing Ons, Paula Badosa, them cracking the Top 10 and doing super well is great. Because you see like different players on the women’s side. I feel like on the men’s side, at least before it was always like the same people, and you see now on the men’s side it’s starting to change too, so it’s nice for the game for sure.