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Canadian Teen Bianca Andreescu Beats Serena Williams to Win US Open for First Major Title

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September 7, 2019 – 2019 US Open Women’s Singles Champion Bianca Andreescu. (Photo by Darren Carroll/USTA)

Canadian Teen Bianca Andreescu Beats Serena Williams to Win US Open for First Major Title

 

(September 7, 2019) FLUSHING MEADOWS, NY – Bianca Andreescu beat six-time winner Serena Williams 6-3, 7-5 to claim the US Open for her major title in her first major final. The 19-year-old became the first singles winner from Canada in the Open Era. This was her first-ever main draw at the US Open. She lost in the qualifying tournament last year in Flushing Meadows.

The age gap between the 15th seed Andreescu at 19, and the 8th seed Williams at 37, 18 years and 263 days, was the largest between major finalists in Open Era history.

In the first set the Canadian teenager broke Williams’ serve in the first and ninth games of the set to take it, 6-3, hitting double faults on both occasions. The seventh game of the set, Williams had to fight off five break points.

The 23-time major winner had problems with her first serve getting only 50% in in the first set, hitting three double faults.

Andreescu kept the pressure on in the second set, as Williams hit a double fault at 0-40 to give the Canadian a 2-0 lead.

The 23-time major champion struck back with her first break of the match for 1-2. The 6-time champion, still having problems with her first serve gave the break back which gave the Canadian a 3-1 lead. She extended her lead to 5-1. Serving for the match, Andreescu could not close on a championship point and Williams broke to get to 5-2.

The American held for 5-3 and broke the Canadian at love as Andreescu served for the match. Williams closed the gap to make it 5-4 and held for 5-5.
Andreescu finally stopped Williams string of four straight games by holding at 30 for 6-5. The teenager broke serve to end the match 6-3, 7-5.

During her on-court interview during the trophy presentation, the winner said: “Being able to play on this stage against Serena, a true legend in this sport, is amazing.”

“It wasn’t easy at all.”

“I’m just so proud that I’m out here and competing at this level,” Williams said. “My team has been so supportive through all the ups and downs and downs and downs and downs,

“Hopefully, we’ll have some ups soon.”

Andreescu also had to battle the crowd, in addition to Williams.  The crowd in Arthur Ashe Stadium was mostly cheering for the 23-time major winner.

“I just tried to block everything out,” Andreescu said. “I’m just glad with how I managed, really.”

“I was blocking out the noise, or trying to. I could barely hear myself think really. It was really, really loud. But I guess that’s what makes this tournament so special.

“I’m sure it’s really nice for the Americans to come on that court. I’ve heard a lot of cheering from other people for me, so I’m really happy with that.

“But it definitely wasn’t easy, especially when she started coming back in the second set. I mean, it was expected. She’s a champion. That’s what champions do. She’s done that many, many times throughout her career.

“But I just tried to stay as composed as I could. It’s hard to just block everything out, but I think I did a pretty good job at that.”

September 7, 2019 – 2019 US Open Women’s Singles Champion Bianca Andreescu. (Photo by Darren Carroll/USTA)

“Definitely disappointing,”  Williams told media during her news conference. “I felt like I could have done so many things a little bit better. But she played really well, and she deserves this championship.”

“I think we’re really similar in terms of we both are fighters and we both are really intense. I feel like we both enjoy what we do, but at the same time – it’s hard to describe – super intense with what we do.”

“I thought she brought more intensity than versatility. I didn’t give her too much opportunity to have versatility.

“I love Bianca. I think she’s a great girl. But I think this was the worst match I’ve played all tournament.

“It’s very hard right now in the moment to, like, take this and say, It didn’t work out for you today, but it’s really hard right now to take that moment in and to say you did okay, because I don’t believe I did.

“I believe I could have played better. I believe I could have done more. I believe I could have just been more Serena today.

“I honestly don’t think Serena showed up. I have to kind of figure out how to get her to show up in Grand Slam finals.”

“It’s hard to know that you could do better. It’s just taking it, whatever. I don’t even know what to say.”

Williams was going for her 24th major title to equal the all-time record in her 33rd major final. She’s 0-4 in major finals since coming back from giving birth to her daughter.

“I’m not necessarily chasing a record,” Williams said. “I’m just trying to win Grand Slams. It’s definitely frustrating, you know. But for the most part I just am still here. I’m still doing what I can do.”

“Asked to compare her losses in major finals since her comeback, Williams said, “I think today I definitely fought. I mean, (Angelique) Kerber (Wimbledon 2018) doesn’t count because, like, I was exhausted. My baby was eight months, and that’s tough. But all of it honestly, truly is super frustrating. I’m, like, so close, so close, so close, yet so far away.

“I don’t know what to say. I guess I got to keep going if I want to be a professional tennis player. And I just got to just keep fighting through it.

“Yeah, I definitely did better than I did against (Simona) Halep (Wimbledon 2019).”

Tearing up in her news conference, Adreescu said : I’ve been dreaming of this moment for the longest time. Like I said after I won the Orange Bowl, a couple months after, I really believed that I could be at this stage. Since then, honestly I’ve been visualizing it almost every single day.

With the win, she moves up to No. 5 in the world, breaking into the Top Ten for the first time. Williams will fall to No. 9.

Andreescu is now 8-0 against Top Ten players this year.

She is the youngest first-time major winner since 2004, when Svetlana Kuznetsova won the US Open and is also the first teenager to lift a major trophy since Maria Sharapova did so at the US Open in 2006.

This was Canadian’s third singles title from four finals this year, having won Indian Wells and Toronto, and was a finalist in Auckland.

“It’s been a goal of mine to inspire many people, especially Canadian athletes,” noted Andreescu. “I think that this win will hopefully do that, not only this win but just what I’ve accomplished this past year because so many Canadian athletes have paved the way for me when I was young.

“Hopefully I can be that person to them.”

 

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