Bianca Andreescu claimed her maiden Grand Slam title at the U.S. Open, surpassing Serena Williams in the process
At only 19 years old, Bianca Andreescu made history by becoming Canada's first ever Grand Slam singles champion, and the first teenager to win a major title since Maria Sharapova in 2006. She defeated Williams in the final, which ran smoothly despite the controversy from the previous year.
Just a year prior, there was a debate stirred up by Williams after having an altercation with umpire Carlos Ramos during her losing match against Naomi Osaka. During the confrontation, a point was deducted from her, and despite being on the brink of victory, she managed to reach second place once more in the final, overcoming a 5-1 deficit and a match point.
Serena, who competed in the Wimbledon final while under the watchful eyes of her close friend Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, will need to wait until 2020 to have another chance to equal Margaret Court's record of 24 major wins. Although she has lost the last four Grand Slam finals in straight sets, Williams remains the queen of tennis and acknowledges she needs to rethink her strategy.
"Honestly, I don't think Serena showed up," Williams said. "I need to find a way to bring her to a Grand Slam final."
"I love Bianca," she added. "I think she's a great kid. But this was the worst match I've ever played in any tournament I've ever been in. It's hard to know if I could have played better. I don't even know what to say."
Energized and versatile Andreescu extended her winning streak in front of her parents to 14 matches, having only lost once since March 1 in Acapulco to retirement or injury, and improved her record against Top 10 players to 8-0 in 2019.
Grim-faced Andreescu
It was evident from the beginning that Andreescu, playing in her first major final, would not back down. Williams, who won her first US Open title 19 years before Andreescu's birthday, started with a 40-15 lead, but Williams closed the match with two double faults, a clear indication of the future.
Andreescu wasn't able to convert any of her five break opportunities in the first set and led 4-2. She shook off the disappointment in the following game and saved a crucial breakpoint with a brave save, eventually closing out the first set with a double fault from Williams.
The fourth game in the second set summed up Williams' pain. Despite taking the lead, she had to surrender a match point at 1-5 due to an unforced error, causing her mother, Orasin, to look confused on the sidelines. Andreescu was still not far behind.
As the crowd roared at a deafening level when Andreescu missed a return and Williams was on the brink of victory, Andreescu tried to block out the noise with her hands.
"I couldn't even hear myself think," she said.
Despite Williams' fighting spirit, reaching an unbelievable comeback in the third set, she found it difficult to keep up in the final. At 30-30, Andreescu went into a panic, committing two double faults and missing two returns on the second serve, but she managed to gather her strength and sealed the victory in 1 hour and 40 minutes.
One of her top 10 wins in 2019 came against Williams at the same Toronto tournament where the American had to retire due to back pain. The experience gave Andreescu valuable time to train on the same court as her idol and even consoled the emotional Williams, a moment that went viral.
"My rise has been rapid," Andreescu said after her victory in New York. "Is this real life? I never wanted to become famous, my goal was to win as many Grand Slam titles as possible and become the world number one. But the thought of fame never really crossed my mind."
"But I'm not complaining. It's been an incredible journey this year. I can definitely get used to it."
She dreamed on.
"I really try to be like Serena," she said. "Who knows, maybe I can do it better."
Canada on the brink of Grand Slam history
Known for their love of ice hockey, Canada is nearing the production of Grand Slam tennis champions, with Eugenie Bouchard and Milos Raonic reaching the Wimbledon final in 2014 and 2016, respectively.
Andreescu set the ball rolling.
Williams is undoubtedly one of the greatest athletes of all time. However, since returning to the tour following the birth of her daughter Olympia in 2017, she has lost her last four Grand Slam finals against Angelique Kerber, Osaka, Simona Halep, and now Andreescu.
"It's really frustrating," she said. "I'm so close, so close, so close, and yet so far."
Also read:
In the last 12 months, Serena Williams sparked a debate about sexism in tennis after getting into a disagreement with umpire Carlos Ramos during her loss against Naomi Osaka, with a point being taken away from her.Despite being 5-1 down in the second set and facing a match point, Williams managed to come back and reach the second place in the final.
After the 2018 U.S. Open incident, some argued that male players were not penalized in the same way for similar behavior. The controversy had a significant impact on Williams' reputation and ranking, as some fans and media alike accused her of being a diva, emphasizing her outburst against chair umpire Ramos.
Additionally, the incident highlighted the issue of inconsistent officiating and the need for improved communication between players and referees. As a result, tennis organizations began implementing new guidelines to help ensure fairer treatment for players, particularly during high-pressure situations.
Enrichment data:
Williams' controversial exchange with umpire Ramos during the 2018 U.S. Open final had a lasting impact on her career, causing some to question her character and leading to concerns about officiating inconsistency in tennis.
After facing criticism and backlash following the 2018 incident, Shaw Sports Academy released an official statement recognizing the need for better communication between players and umpires[1][3]. The organization also emphasized the importance of treating all players with fairness and respect, irrespective of their ranking or reputation.
In the aftermath, several tennis organizations took steps to address the issue, including implementing new guidelines and providing additional training for umpires to help ensure fairer treatment for all players during high-stress situations[1][3]. These initiatives aimed to improve the overall experience for players and fans, fostering a more positive and inclusive environment within the sport.
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