Vero Beach, Florida — Local tennis enthusiasts and sports fans in Indian River County witnessed world-class talent on the clay courts this week as Canadian tennis star Bianca Andreescu claimed the championship title at the ITF W75 Vero Beach.
The presence of a former Grand Slam champion in Vero Beach brought a heightened level of excitement to the local tournament. Andreescu, who famously defeated Serena Williams to win the 2019 US Open, has been prioritizing the ITF Circuit to rebuild her world ranking following a challenging 2025 season. Her decision to compete in Vero Beach paid off, securing her second title of the year.
Entering the Vero Beach event as the number six seed, Andreescu displayed the form that once propelled her to world number four.Throughout the tournament, she successfully navigated a challenging field, defeating opponents Victoria Hu, Lia Karatancheva, Kajsa Rinaldo Persson, and Jazmin Ortenzi to reach the championship match.
In the final, Andreescu faced off against Xiaodi You. The match began with a competitive first set where the Canadian star initially held a break advantage before losing it late in the set. However, she regained her composure to secure the lead. The second set was a showcase of her dominance.
However, she managed to regain it to take the lead before racing away with the second set, winning six games on the spin in a dominant showing to take home a second title in 2026.
This victory in Vero Beach is a critical step in Andreescu’s comeback journey. Starting the year ranked at number 228, her performance on the Treasure Coast—combined with a previous win at the ITF W35 Bradenton—has vaulted her 66 places up the standings to world number 162.
For local residents, the tournament served as a reminder of the high caliber of athletics hosted within Indian River County. The event allowed the community to see a major tennis talent finding her footing again on local soil, opting to compete in Florida rather than traveling to the Australian Open qualifiers. While Andreescu aims to eventually return to the higher-tier WTA Tour, her success here highlights the competitive nature and prestige of the Vero Beach tennis circuit.
