By Erik Gudris | Tuesday, March 31, 2026
Photo credit: Katelyn Mulcahy/Credit One Charleston Open
Bianca Andreescu is enjoying her debut visit to the South Carolina Lowcountry with her first Tour level win in almost a year.
Andreescu, 25, who received a wildcard into the Credit One Charleston Open, earned a satisfying 1-6, 6-4, 6-1 win over Hungary’s Dalma Galfi in their opening round.
With the win, the Canadian star and former US Open champion notched her first tour-level win since defeating Barbora Krejcikova in Montreal last July.
Andreescu, after the match, was asked about what she was most happy about with the performance, considering it’s her first tour win in some time.
“I think at the end of the day, it’s the effort that counts for me, if I’ve given the best that I could, you know, in that day, which I think I did, that’s the most important thing,” Andreescu said. “Trying my best here, and then intention, that’s what I speak about with my coach every single day, if I can give those two things, then win or lose, it doesn’t matter to me, I just have to be just pleased with that.”
Andreescu, currently ranked World No. 140, has struggled over the last few years due to multiple injuries, including a back stress fracture and ankle issues. After choosing not to play at the Australian Open earlier this year, Andreescu chose to play in several ITF events to hone her game.
“I wanted to do that back in 2024 (after a lengthy break from the tour), but I guess we can say my ego got in the way of that,” Andreescu told the WTA earlier about 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.”
Playing for the first time at the WTA 500 event, Andreescu knew the World No. 84 Galfi well, having lost to her earlier this season in Austin. Though she struggled in the first set, Andreescu found her footing on the green clay of Charleston late in the second set as she converted a critical break point to go ahead 4-3.
Andreescu, after winning the second set, took complete control of the final set after earning an early break. From there, Andreescu broke serve in four out of the five last services games for Galfi before completed the three set win.
Next up for Andreescu is another former Grand Slam champion – last year’s Charleston finalist and Australian Open winner Sofia Kenin.
“She’s a tough competitor, yeah, we’ve played many times, and they were never easy matches, so I’m definitely not expecting anything easy,” Andreescu said of Kenin, who she leads 4-1 in their head-to-head. “She is a Grand Slam champion, so I think it’s going to be a really good match, and I think it’s going to be fun for the fans to watch.”