Bianca Andreescu 7.0: “I’m trying to reclaim that dangerous, fearless Bianca”

Episode 9 of The Big T, a Tennis Channel podcast, will be available to listen on your favorite streaming platforms at 7 p.m. ET—click here for the latest drop.

You can also watch specific segments and bonus content from every episode on the Tennis Channel app—click here and start digging in!

This week’s episode goes on the road, to the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells, where Coco, BG and Petch break down the brackets and catch up with two players to watch…

🎤 Bibi’s back at the BNP Paribas Open

Google “Bianca Andreescu” and go to her page on the WTA website—after you’ve already visited her TENNIS.com player page, of course. Does anything stick out? This did to me: her doubles stats, rather than her singles, are displayed first.

That’s likely because Andreescu’s current doubles ranking, 160, is five spots higher than her singles rank, but it was jarring to see for this former US Open, Canadian Open and Indian Wells champion. She won all those titles in an out-of-nowhere 2019 season—Bianca was just 18 when she won IW—but hasn’t come close to replicating such highs. (She hasn’t won a WTA title of any sort since.) Unquestionably talented but often injured, Canadian lost eight of her last 11 matches in 2025.

“I’m trying to, I guess, reclaim that dangerous, fearless Bianca that can really stand a chance against anyone, and I think I’m getting there,” Andreescu said on The Big T. “I just feel that, before, I was focusing too much on, you know, trying to go back to 2019, so living in the past.

"And now...it’s like recreating the new Bianca, what is it? 7.0.”

So as the 2026 season started, Andreescu started over. While the tennis world was focused on Australia, she entered a W35 tournament in Bradenton, Fla. Ranked 227^th and seeded No. 1, she won five matches to collect $4,860 and, more importantly, 35 WTA ranking points. Andreescu entered another W35 the next week, losing in the semifinals, before winning a W75 in Vero Beach to close out a 13-1 January.

“Going back to those levels, was a decision obviously that wasn’t easy, right? In a way, I guess I'm going the Agassi route,” Andreescu told Brad Gilbert—who famously coached Andre when he decided to play down and compete in the sport’s lower levels.

“I think what’s amazing is I finally got some match rhythm, which I haven’t had over the last few years. I got as many matches as I did in those three weeks, like all of last year.”

After playing a main-draw match last week in Austin, Andreescu will compete at the BNP Paribas Open as a wild card. If she wins her first-rounder, Coco Gauff awaits.

“It’ll be interesting to see how my level right now, with what I’m implementing and what I’m working on, can show face against someone like that,” she said of a potential match-up. “I’m very excited.”

🎧 Listen to the entire Andreescu interview at the 13:20 mark of this week’s show. (Available 7 p.m. ET)

🎤 Interview Number Two: Sebastian Korda

Like Andreescu, Sebastian Korda has three titles in his career. He’s also 25 years old and, for a time, the sky appeared to be the limit for this supreme shotmaker.

But since his run to the 2023 Australian Open quarterfinals, Korda has yet to go beyond the third round of a Slam, and his record in tour-level finals prior to this season was just 2-9. Some of that came down to execution, and some of it came down to health.

“I would say since coming back on tour after my leg injury, it was definitely…the darkest time in my tennis career,” Korda told Coco Vandeweghe on The Big T. “I was just getting a lot of anxiety when I was coming back from court, so disconnected from playing matches.”

Another first-round loss at a major in January didn’t spur optimism, but what’s transpired since has. Korda dropped down in level—again, like Andreescu—and saw success. He reached the final of the San Diego ATP Challenger Tour event, then defeated Michael Zheng (his conqueror at the Australian Open) and Frances Tiafoe at the ATP 500 in Dallas.

“I just felt like it was the right time to like throw myself in the fire,” Korda said of his and his team’s decision to play a Challenger.

It was a sign of things to come, as Korda then went all the way in Delray Beach. The tournament was “only” an ATP 250, but you’d never know that based on his gauntlet to victory: Korda defeated 41^st-ranked Alex Michelsen, 13^th-ranked Casper Ruud, 20^th-ranked Flavio Cobolli and 24^th-ranked Tommy Paul.

Unseeded at Indian Wells, Korda begins his quest for his first ATP 1000 semifinal since 2024 when he plays Francisco Comesana. And in his corner? New coach Ryan Harrison.

“I’m feeling the best physically that I’ve felt the last couple of years,” said Korda. “Hopefully it stays that way.”

🎧 Listen to the entire Korda interview at the 27:40 mark of this week’s show. (Available 7 p.m. ET)

☀️ Bracketology: Indian Wells

The draws are out, and the takes are in. On Tuesday, we found out that Novak Djokovic is in Carlos Alcaraz’s half of the BNP Paribas Open bracket, while Aryna Sabalenka may have to contend with Naomi Osaka and Amanda Anisimova. That is, if the surging Victoria Mboko doesn’t oust the American beforehand.

TENNIS.com’s Steve Tignor broke down each quarter of both brackets in his men’s and women’s previews, which you need to check out. Here’s a bit of what the co-hosts of The Big T had to say about the reveals:

• Vandeweghe: “I’m gonna go Rybakina. She’s won here before, she’s always a tough opponent on the hard courts…are we forgetting she just won the last Grand Slam?”

• Petchey: “If I’m picking one [to win], it’s also coming from the bottom half: Pegula.”

• Gilbert: “I think we will get an unseeded player in the [women’s] semis.”

• Vandeweghe: “You always gotta look at Novak. He has a tricky one, if Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard can get through that first round. Big server like that against the best returner…”

• Gilbert: “Sinner has gone two tournaments without making a final…it’s Sin City time. He’ll be a man on a mission here.”

• Petchey: “I’m going with Ben Shelton. It’s a lot [of sets he’s lost in a row to Sinner’, but it’s going to change at some point.”

🎧 Listen to the entire bracket breakdown at the 41:20 mark of this week’s show. (Available 7 p.m. ET)

📫 Calling All Questions!

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