Serena Williams to Face Canadian Teen Bianca Andreescu in Toronto Final

(August 10, 2019) TORONTO – It was an exciting day of tennis in Toronto on Saturday that ultimately lead to what had to be the tournament organizer’s dream. Serena Williams will take on 19-year-old Canadian and hometown favorite Bianca Andreescu.

Andreescu started the day, taking on American Sofia Kenin. If this was a preview of what the WTA can look forward to for the next ten years, we should all be thrilled. Both players changed the direction of the ball beautifully, but likewise defended on the baseline quite well. This created fun, open, and at time long points as the ball was forced all over the court.

“It’s always nice to go into a match with someone like Sofia. She’s an incredible fighter and she never gives up. So it’s a pleasure for me to share a court with someone like that because I think it pushes me even harder to do better.

So, yeah, it was definitely a game of cat and mouse today. We were drop-shotting each other, we were coming to the net, all that stuff. So it’s never easy to play someone like that.”

Andreescu was emotional as the final ball was hit, and eventually collapsed to the court in celebration after the handshake.

“Well, the reason why I was really emotional was because of all the emotions I had during that tiebreaker. I think my body just wanted to let it all out. And also because it’s just so incredible that I’m in the finals right now of Rogers Cup. I had zero expectations coming into this tournament.

“And just with all that I’ve been through. The past couple of months have been so, so, so, so tough. So just being able to be here right now is truly incredible.”

The Canadian teen won the match 6-4, 7-6(5).

Andreescu has been confident all week, and appeared so after the match when faced with taking on Serena Williams in the final.

“Yeah, it would be an honor to share the court with her. But when I go out there, like I said, I’m fearless. So hopefully that will be the case when I play her.”

The night session felt like what was to be an inevitability, as Williams took on qualifier Marie Bouzkova. However, Serena struggled in the first half, making a multitude of unforced errors and ultimately dropping the set 6-1 in just over a half hour.

“I just needed to be more consistent and not make so many errors and just mentally be ready to hit a thousand balls if I needed to.

In the first set, I was going for a little too much, so I just had to just play a different game.”

Serena was her typical self, and unfazed about approaching a Sunday crowd that will likely be cheering heavily for the hometown opponent.

“The crowd will obviously be for her. I definitely would too. But it’s really not about that. It’s just about going out there and playing your great tennis.

Luckily, I’ve had some tough crowds in my career, so hopefully I will be used to it.”

The 23-time major champion won the match 1-6, 6-3, 6-3.

Sunday’s final of the Rogers Cup will take place at 1:30pm EST. 

Brodie Widdifield is covering the Rogers Cup in Toronto for Tennis Panorama News, follow him on Twitter at @MindTheRacket