Learning from Bianca Andreescu's Mental Game
What Iowa Sports Prep students learn from the power of visualization
The 60-Second Story
Months before winning the 2019 US Open, Bianca Andreescu wrote herself a check for a Grand Slam winner's prize money. She visualized the trophy presentation. She practiced her victory speech. She saw herself as a champion before she was one.
At 19 years old, she defeated Serena Williams in the final to become Canada's first Grand Slam singles champion. The victory wasn't luck—it was the culmination of years of mental training that turned visualization from wishful thinking into a genuine competitive advantage.
Andreescu's approach to the mental game is as systematic as any physical training program. She proved that what you see in your mind directly shapes what you can achieve in reality.
What Your Child Will Learn
| Lesson | The Principle |
|---|---|
| Write It Down | Andreescu wrote her goals as if they'd already happened—including prize money checks dated for specific tournaments. Written visualization is more powerful than mental visualization alone. |
| See the Details | Generic visualization ("I'll win") doesn't work. Andreescu visualized specific moments: the trophy weight, the crowd sounds, the feeling in her chest. Specificity creates reality. |
| Daily Practice | Visualization was a scheduled practice, not an occasional exercise. Andreescu dedicated time daily to mental training, treating it with the same discipline as physical training. |
| Believe Before Evidence | Andreescu believed she would win the US Open before she had any evidence to support that belief. Then she created the evidence. |
| Meditation as Foundation | Andreescu combined visualization with meditation, creating a calm mental state before "seeing" her success. The calm makes the vision clearer. |
The Story Behind the Lessons
The Check Ritual
Before the 2019 US Open, Bianca Andreescu wrote herself a check for $3.85 million—the winner's prize money. She dated it for September 7, 2019, the day of the women's final.
This wasn't magical thinking. It was a psychological commitment device. By writing the check, Andreescu made her goal concrete and specific. The check sat where she could see it, reminding her daily of what she was working toward.
On September 7, 2019, she defeated Serena Williams to win the US Open.
The Morning Visualization Protocol
Andreescu's visualization practice was structured and consistent:
- Meditation first: 10-15 minutes of mindfulness to create a calm, focused state
- Vivid imagery: Visualizing specific matches, specific points, specific moments
- Sensory detail: Including sounds (crowd noise), physical sensations (racket grip), and emotions (confidence)
- Outcome and process: Visualizing both the end result (trophy presentation) and the steps to get there (specific shots in specific situations)
This wasn't daydreaming—it was deliberate mental practice. Andreescu approached it with the same discipline she brought to hitting serves.
The Serena Final
Watch the 2019 US Open final. A 19-year-old facing Serena Williams—arguably the greatest player ever—in front of a New York crowd that wanted Serena to win.
Andreescu looked comfortable. Calm. Like she belonged there.
She later explained: she'd already been there. In her visualizations, she'd played this match hundreds of times. The actual final was a confirmation of what she'd already experienced mentally.
When she won the final point, her reaction was joy but not shock. She had seen this moment so many times that achieving it felt like remembering.
The Working with Coaches
Andreescu works with a mental performance coach regularly, treating mental skills as learnable rather than innate.
Her approach combines:
- Cognitive behavioral techniques — Challenging negative thoughts
- Mindfulness meditation — Staying present under pressure
- Visualization protocols — Creating mental rehearsals of success
- Goal-setting frameworks — Specific, written, time-bound objectives
This systematic approach to mental training mirrors how elite athletes approach physical training—with structure, repetition, and professional guidance.
The Andreescu Challenge
This is a 14-day commitment to visualization as a systematic practice.
| Day | Challenge |
|---|---|
| 1 | Write down a specific goal as if it's already happened. Include the date and specific details. |
| 2 | Find a photo that represents your goal achieved. Put it somewhere you'll see daily. |
| 3-5 | Each morning, spend 10 minutes in quiet visualization. See specific moments of your success in vivid detail. |
| 6-7 | Add sensory details to your visualization: sounds, physical feelings, emotions. Make it real. |
| 8-10 | Visualize not just the outcome but the process—the specific actions you'll take to achieve your goal. |
| 11-12 | Before a practice or competition, visualize the performance you want to have. See it before you do it. |
| 13 | Review your Day 1 goal. Does your daily visualization match it? Adjust if needed. |
| 14 | Reflect: How has systematic visualization changed your confidence and approach? |
| Final | Create a 60-second "You Teach" video: What Bianca Andreescu taught you about seeing success before achieving it. |
Earning:
- 🏅 Andreescu Badge on your MyPath profile
- 📈 +5 Mental OVR boost
- 🎬 Content for your personal portfolio
In Their Own Words
"I believe visualization is so powerful. It's really what got me to where I am."
"I wrote myself a check for the prize money months before the US Open. I would look at it every day."
"I meditate every single day, and I visualize—I see myself winning."
"When I won the US Open, it felt like I had already experienced it so many times."
"Your mind is a powerful thing. When you fill it with positive thoughts, your life will start to change."
FAQs
Q: Is visualization actually proven to work, or is it just positive thinking?
A: Neuroscience research shows that vivid visualization activates similar brain regions as actual performance. Athletes who visualize are essentially getting mental reps. The key is specificity: don't just "imagine winning"—see the exact moments, feelings, and actions in detail.
Q: How do I help my child start a visualization practice?
A: Start small—5 minutes before bed. Have them close their eyes and visualize a perfect performance: the sights, sounds, feelings. Make it vivid and specific. Andreescu visualized winning the US Open so completely that the actual win "felt like I had already experienced it."
Q: What if my child feels silly writing themselves a winner's check?
A: The specific technique matters less than the commitment to the outcome. Some athletes visualize, some write goals, some create vision boards. The point is making success feel real and inevitable before it happens. Find what resonates with your child.
Related Athletes
- Conor McGregor — Speaking success into existence
- Novak Djokovic — Visualization and mental fortress
- Jack Nicklaus — "Going to the movies" before every shot
Why Andreescu Matters for Iowa Kids
Bianca Andreescu was 19 years old when she beat the greatest player in women's tennis history. She didn't have decades of experience or a wall of trophies. What she had was a mental approach that made her feel like she'd already won before stepping on court.
Iowa kids can learn visualization at any age. It costs nothing, requires no special equipment, and can be practiced anywhere. The only requirement is discipline—treating mental training with the same seriousness as physical training.
The lesson: see it before you achieve it. Write it down. Visualize the details. And when the moment arrives, you'll be ready because you've already been there.
That's what ISP teaches. That's what your child will learn.