Who is Bianca Andreescu? The 19-year-old Canadian immigrant who stunned Serena Williams
Not only did Bianca Andreescu became the first Canadian to win a Grand Slam title but the 19-year-old also became the first teenager to win a Grand Slam title in 13 years.
In Short
- Bianca Andreescu held off a late charge by Serena Williams to win 6-3 7-5
- Bianca's parents - Maria and Nicu - had immigrated to Canada from Romania in 1994
- Bianca credits her parents, specially her mother, for her success at such early stage
When she was 16, Bianca Andreescu wrote herself a fake US Open winner's check as she dreamt herself holding the coveted trophy. The teen kept updating the amount of prize money as it rose in real life. And after 3 years, she was there, standing at the Flushing Meadows, holding the champion's check worth USD 3.85 million.
The victory at the US Open was huge for Bianca Andreescu as it came against the 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams. But Bianca showed nerves of steel while facing the former world No. 1 to make sure the first time was her time.
Not only did Andreescu became the first Canadian to win a Grand Slam title but the 19-year-old also became the first teenager to win a Grand Slam title in 13 years. The last teenager to win a major was Maria Sharapova, who was 19 when she won the 2006 US Open. Moreover, Andreescu also became the first player born in the 2000s (man or woman) to reach a Grand Slam final.
On Sunday, Andreescu was furious on court. For playing against a player of a stature like Serena Williams, Andreescu looked extremely confident and it was rather the American who seemed to be under immense pressure. With her 6-3, 7-4 win over Williams, Andreescu penned one of the most amazing stories in tennis to become a household name among the tennis fans.
The daughter of Romanian immigrants to Canada
Bianca's parents - Maria Andreescu and Nicu Andreescu - originally immigrated to Canada from Romania in 1994. "We arrived in Canada with two suitcases and that's all," Nicu told the Globe and Mail," Maria Andreescu recalled during an interview.
Bianca returned to her native country at the age of 6 with her mom while her dad stayed behind in Canda. The mother-daughter duo returned to Canada permanently a few years later for the better good.
A message from your 2019 women's singles champion, @Bandreescu_!#USOpen pic.twitter.com/3OSLzPLIuw US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 8, 2019
Andreescu and her open media appearances
In her last 8 game Andreescu, found a way to claw back from a set down to win the match. When asked by a reporter how did she managed to do it, Andreescu replied that she said to herself to bring her "it" together, just barely stopping herself before uttering the preceding "sh."
At the Rogers Cup, she consoled a tearful Serena who had to retire hurt from the final and boosted her with her words. "You're a f-cking beast."
Andreescu and her love for dogs
From media day to hoisting the trophy, @Bandreescu_ is all about #USOpen pic.twitter.com/K9lBmnas4L US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 8, 2019
Andreescu has a furry, 7-pound brown dog that often comes to see her play in the matches. Andreescu's parents brought Coco to the semi-final game where their daughter faced Belinda Bencic.
Andreescu and her super fashionable mother
such a lil nug https://t.co/7aVlwKVXcT Bianca (@Bandreescu_) September 5, 2019
Bianca Andreescu rose to fame with her phenomenal rise in year 2019. However, it is not just Andreescu in her family who has caught the media attention but her mother Maria Andreescu is also becoming a celebrity in her own right.
Maria became the talk of the town with her dressing style during the US Open.
Andreescu describes her mother as "the coolest person" she knows. She does seemed like one with her over-sized black sunglasses at night, big hair, and a Versace-esque print top that read "Dog Queen" on the collar, accessorized with the family pooch, Coco, on her lap.
She is calm as a monk
Andreescu credits her parents, specially her mother, for her success at such early stage. The 19-year-old maintains that she learned how to stay calm in important moments from meditating, something that her mother taught her at a very young age.
In the epic showdown on Sunday, Andreescu looked extremely focused and as cool as cucumber against the G.O.A.T Serena Williams and that's because she knows how to control her mind.
"I think if you can control your mind, then you can control a lot of things. When I'm on the court in front of these big stages, I'm really good at just blocking everything and staying in the zone," Andreescu had said.