August 12, 2019,
Though it happens every year, it is impossible to predict.
That’s the fun part about it.
Who will get red hot before the biggest and most watched tennis Grand Slam of the year, the US Open in August?
In 2017 Britain’s Johnna Konta, currently ranked number 17 in the world, reached as high as number 4.
In 2018 Naomi Osaka went on a hot streak and eventually reached number one.
So who is next?
When they say, “she’s the first Canadian women in 50 years to win the Toronto Cup”, whose name would they insert after that?
Bianca Andreescu.
And she’s only 19 years old.
This year, seemingly exploding out of nowhere is Bianca Andreescu of Canada who as of this August 11, 2019 writing just expired fellow Canadian Eugenie Bouchard (who thinks they both have nice butts), the number 5 ranked Kiki Bertens, the number 3rd ranked Petra Kvitová, the sizzling hot American Sofia Kenin and the legendary champion Serena Williams at this year’s Toronto’s Rogers Cup.
That’s quite a lineup.
That’s quite a resume.
That is sizzling hot.
No doubt her number 27 ranking will improve. The eyes of Canada will be upon her at this year’s 2019 US Open as they were during the finals in Toronto.
VS SERENA
This is by far the biggest moment of Bianca’s young career.
She walks out with her head phones on to the cheering of her Canadian fans. This is the first time in 50 years that a Canadian woman has made it to the Toronto Cup (Canadian) finals.
Serena calmly walks out afterwards. On foreign turf or not, she been here so many times before.
Soon it was time for some pre-match photos. Plenty of them.
As odd as it may sound, this actually is a big match for Serena who has not won one title in 2019 and has only played in seven tournaments in preparation for the US Open.
Serena has a tendency to start off slowly and work her way into matches and the first game sees Serena methodically serving. Almost like a warm up. The points go back and forth. Bianca dumps a ground stroke into the net and the first game goes to Serena.
Bianca begins her serve in game two and fools Serena with a spin back drop shot to perfection. Her goal is to keep Serena away from the middle of the court where the American star can do so much damage. It works. Serena misses an easy overhead on a lob.
Serena 1, Bianca 1.
Serena is working her way into this match and on her inconsistent days has a tendency to make a lot of unforced errors and she is doing that today, pounding many of Bianca’s balls deep behind the lines. Then she double faults.
Bianca 2-1.
Serving well, Bianca has a chance to solidify her lead and as Serena continues to hit balls deep, she does.
Bianca 3-1.
Against most players, a red hot rising star with a 3-1 lead would be cause for concern, but not with Serena who in her semi-final match against Marie Bouzkova lost the first set 1-6 but rallied to beat the 21 year old Czech star in three sets.
Not to be today. Something’s wrong.
Serena walks over to the chair in tears. Apparently she is having strong back spasms and must retire, conceding victory to Bianca who will be the first Canadian woman to win the title in Toronto in 50 years.
Every year there is a sizzling hot player that gets us excited about what might happen at the glorious 2019 US Open.
This year that player is Canada’s Bianca Andreescu.
It hasn’t been easy. She clocked in more match time during the tournament due to longer battles than the other top players. This year she has suffered a severe shoulder injury that caused her to miss a couple months of play. Even at this tournament she had wrappings on both of her upper thighs.
She has fought through a lot of pain.
But what gain.
Bianca reached a career-high singles ranking of No. 22 on May 20, 2019, as ranked by the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), and a career-high combined junior ranking of No. 3 on February 1, 2016, as ranked by the International Tennis Federation (ITF).
Our shooting star, wrapped in Maple Leafs, was born in Mississauga, Ontario.
Mississauga is a large Canadian city neighboring Toronto on Lake Ontario.
With a population of 721,599 as of the 2016 census, Mississauga is the sixth-most populous municipality in Canada, third-most in Ontario, and second-most in the Greater Toronto Area.
The growth of Mississauga is attributed to its proximity to Toronto.
During the latter half of the 20th century, the city attracted a multicultural population and built up a thriving central business district. It is home to Toronto Pearson International Airport, Canada’s busiest airport, as well as the headquarters of many Canadian and multinational corporations.
Sounds powerful, like Bianca.
Ms. Andreescu started playing tennis at the tender age of 7 in Pitești, under Gabriel Hristache, when the Andreescu family moved back to her parents’ native Romania.
A few years later, the Andreescus returned to live in Canada, where Bianca trained at the Ontario Racquet Club in Mississauga. When she was 11 years old, she joined Tennis Canada‘s National Training Program in Toronto and started getting more serious about her career.
Great decision.
This is the first tournament that we’ve actually seen Bianca play in and its not that she just plays well, she has incredible charisma. So much so that sometimes it gets on the nerves of the other players.
As reported at metro.co.uk, “Angelique Kerber must be sick of the sight of Bianca Andreescu. Beaten by the talented 18-year-old Canadian twice in a week, the experienced German gave her young opponent a frosty reception at the net. The result clearly didn’t go down well with the reigning Wimbledon champion and during a frosty handshake at the net, Kerber said: ‘You’re the biggest drama queen ever.”
Hmm Angelique, tell us what you’re really thinking.
Bianca does tend to get emotional. She cried through at least two interviews that we saw. When she threw out the opening pitch at one of the Toronto Blue Jay’s games, we thought she might cry, but she didn’t.
Good throw though.
Yes she’s been through a lot, injuries and all, and she lets us all know that, all of the time.
Well. Maybe most of the time. But you know what?
This kid is such a breath of fresh Canadian air. We love her. Never a dull moment. She is so young and so much fun. Mature too. She sincerely consoled Serena who was reduced to tears herself when she had to retire early in the Toronto Cup finals.
That was classy.
So, get ready for this year’s US Open.
There promises to be lots of drama except this time it shouldn’t be in a match between Serena and Naomi Osaki, who Serena dispatched of in two sets in Toronto with little resistance.
We sure hope that Angelique and Bianca are in the same draw. After all, what is the US Open without drama?
Just like when Caroline Wozniacki and Maria Sharapova had some heated words about Maria’s suspension. Caroline? Please mind your own business.
Every year blossoms a red hot rising star worth watching and whenever you think of Bianca Andreescu, always start your sentence with, “She’s the first Canadian woman in 50 years to win the Toronto Cup.”
We sure will.
Will she be the first Canadian woman in the Open era, starting in 1970, to win the US Open?
Some thought that would be the gorgeous Canadian Eugenie Bouchard who was once ranked number 5 in the world and has slid downhill faster than French butter on a 110 degree Montreal day and is currently lodged at number 145.
She seems to spend a lot of time on the Social Media, modeling and booty shaking. Femcompetitor Magazine wrote about her.
2019 AO, Vs Serena, What Was Eugenie Bouchard Thinking About?
Still her new coach Jorge Todero believes that one day Eugenie will be number 5 again. Maybe even win a Grand Slam. Nothing like positive thinking since her previous coaches (yes plural) apparently completely disagreed and parted ways with her.
Our response to Eugenie’s new coach?
“For how long will you be visiting planet earth?”
No, its Bianca’s time, who is also a gorgeous babe who takes sexy pictures on Instagram showing her booty too, when she’s not crying and making Angelique Kerber want to cry in both English and German.
Still, bandaged and all, her feet are firmly on the ground.
Oh to be incredibly talented, young, beautiful and from Canada.
2019 US Open? We can’t wait.
~ ~ ~
Opening photo via Sportsnet
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/aug/10/rogers-cup-semifinals-bianca-andreescu-serena-williams
https://www.essentiallysports.com/eugenie-bouchard-can-reach-the-top-five-again-says-coach/
https://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/49310206
The rise of Canadian tennis sensation Bianca Andreescu | The National Interview:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gF6lqA1DGUs
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bianca_Andreescu
https://www.wtatennis.com/players/player/325088/title/bianca-andreescu-0
https://www.itftennis.com/procircuit/players/player/profile.aspx?playerid=100228011
