Bianca Andreescu produced a moment in Canadian history by defeating Serena Williams in the US Open Finals to capture Canada’s first-ever Grand Slam singles title. Over 5-million Canadians tuned in to watch the match – the most to ever watch a tennis match in Canada.
Andreescu’s brilliance caught the hearts of many, and the shockwaves in the aftermath will be felt for years to come. At 19 years old, she is already the greatest Canadian singles player to ever compete, and she will be pointed to as the poster-person for tennis in the nation.
Her impact is being felt in the youth tennis community in the Forest City: “it was really cool seeing a Canadian woman move through the ranks,” said Maggie Betker, a youth tennis player who trains at the Greenhills Golf & Country Club in Lambeth, Ontario.
It’s evident how impactful the win will be for up-and-comers: “She seemed like a really big inspiration for all young women trying to get into tennis or who play,” said Erin Laffling, another young tennis player.
From a coaching perspective, Andreescu’s win will be utilized as a teaching tool: “we want to promote the fact that she won,” said Fio Marin, who has been a youth tennis coach for over three decades. “Sometimes kids don’t necessarily watch cable; they don’t necessarily follow tennis…we definitely now give them a good example to strive towards.”
Canada has had a national tennis program for a few decades, but they have never had someone like Andreescu to be able to flaunt its success: “[She’s] one in a million,” said Anthony Glavanic, who is a coach for the Canadian Junior tennis program, and Western University’s men’s tennis coach. “She’s got mental, physical, loves the game and combines it all.”
Glavanic says that in the week following the US Open, he received multiple calls from parents to sign their child up for tennis lessons. He warns, however, not to get into tennis for the wrong reasons: “What’s worrisome is that I don’t want people to only play thinking of that 3-million dollar paycheck. They have got to play for the love of the game. From what I hear about her, [Bianca] loves the game.”
What was perhaps most impressive from Andreescu’s win – aside from it coming against one of the greatest tennis players of all time – is how she did not falter when conceding a 5-1 set lead in the second set.
Western’s women’s tennis coach, Mike Richards, knows that it’s not easy to rebound in a situation like that: “I know what it feels like to be up in a set and you start losing. So, I was thinking ‘oh my gosh, she’s going to be devastated, she’s going to lose in three sets!’ Then she wins the next two games and the match.”
Bianca Andreescu’s US Open victory will go down as a “where were you when?” moment in Canadian history – akin to Game 6 of the 2019 NBA finals or the 2010 Olympic Gold Medal hockey game. The Canadian’s short rise to fame will be immortalized north of the border and will be pointed to as the face of Canadian tennis for years to come.
