NEW YORK (SMI-SPORTS,09.07.19)-The 2019 US Open Women's single tournament concluded today, with 19-year-old, Bianca Andreescu, from Canada   , defeating 23-Grand Slam champion, Serena Williams

(USA, WTA#8), in 2-sets (6-3,7-5), in the 2019 US Open championship final match, and becoming the first Canadian player (men or women) to win a US Open Grand Slam tournament in  Flushing Meadows.

 

Andreescu, who is world-ranked#15 prior to the final match and won the 2019 Toronto OPen against Serena Williams, who retired due to injury, became the second Canadian's woman tennis player to reach the final of a major Grand Slam since Eugenie Bouchard did it on 2014 Wimbledon, and lost in final to Petra Kvitová in two-sets (6-3,6-0).

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Bianca Andreescu played an excellent tennis from the start, solid and with a high confidence that grew as the match progressed. She got in front very fast in the first set and kept the pressure on over Williams that seemed kind of confused in trying to figure-out Andreescu's playing strategy on the court.

 

Andreescu, known for her aggressive cross-court strokes playing style, often finishing the point with an inside-out forehand or a drop shot near the net, used every ammunition at her disposition to disarm Serena Williams' defensibly and offensibly, using high balls to draw short replies that made it very difficult for Williams to go the offensive.

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This type of playing style has worked perfectly for the Canadian's rising star since the start of the tournament, winning  six consecutives matches to reach the semifinals and the final match that granted her to win the 2019 US Open Crown and first major Grand Slam.

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Bianca wins the 2019 US Open Women's single championship Crown and

this is what she said a the Post-Game press conference:

 

Q. What were you feeling when she caught up to 5- All?

BIANCA ANDREESCU: I had some doubts because I've witnessed her come back from being 5-0 down, 5-1 down, 5-2 down. I just told myself to stick with my tactics. She started playing much better. I think the crowd really helped her, as well.

Q. Obviously very loud in there. You put your fingers in your ears at one point. What were you trying to block out at that moment? How were you ultimately able to find it within yourself to push through at the end?
BIANCA ANDREESCU: Well, 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.

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Q. You've comported yourself so well on the court throughout this whole run. What were your nerves like before the final? Players often talk about trying to treat every match the same, but there's a lot of pomp and circumstance with the final. How did those nerves feel? How important did you feel that first game was when you were able to break her?

BIANCA ANDREESCU: I was feeling many, many things before the match, more than any other match. In the finals, playing Serena. I just tried to breathe as much as I could from the moment I woke up until the match. I tried to just do that throughout the whole match, to just keep my nerves in place.It wasn't easy at all. But I think that's what I've been doing really well throughout this whole year.

Q. When you took the 6-5 lead in the second sitting in your chair, it looked like your eyes were closed. What was going through your mind at that point?

BIANCA ANDREESCU: I told myself to put the goddamn ball inside the court and just breathe as much as I could because she was serving, first of all. I wanted to win the first point to show her that I am in it to win it. Did I win that first point? I don't even know.

Q. I think so.

BIANCA ANDREESCU: Okay, good.

But, yeah, the game plan right from the start of the match was to make her play and to just make her work for every ball. I'm just really happy with how I executed because I think that's what I did the whole entire match.

Q. You've talked about wanting to inspire young people across Canada. Canadians are going crazy over this win. You've made history. What does that mean to you?

BIANCA ANDREESCU: I've said this many, many times before. I'm going to say it again. It's been a goal of mine to inspire many people, especially Canadian athletes. 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.

Q. You sound very self-assured, you play a confident brand of tennis. Is that something that's

always been the case for you? Is it something you had to learn over time? If so, how did you?
BIANCA ANDREESCU: No, I don't think I was ever as composed as I am now, or even a year ago. I would get really down on myself and I would get very negative thoughts going through my mind. I would smash racquets. I'd just yell at myself during matches. Actually not even during matches, even during practice, too.

But I found that that way wasn't working to my advantage at all. So I started seeing -- I'll say I started seeking some advice from other people. Ever since then, I've been trying to have a very positive outlook on everything. I think that's really been helping me, even in tough situations.

Q. At Indian Wells you spoke about how every day you get up and do this meditating. Did you do that today? Do you find it gives you a sense of calm? Is it empowering?

BIANCA ANDREESCU: Yeah, I did that this morning. I've been doing that this whole tournament. I put myself in situations where I think can happen in a match basically. I just find ways to deal with that so I'm prepared for anything that comes my way.

I think your biggest weapon is to be as prepared as you can. I really think that just working your mind -- because at this level everyone knows how to play tennis, I think. The thing that separates the best from the rest is just the mindset.

Q. How famous do you want to be? We can tell how good you want to be. Do you want to be like this all the time? Do you like that life? Are you okay with the idea of being recognized all over the place? Was that all part of the dream?

BIANCA ANDREESCU: I guess it is, yeah (laughter). I never really thought about being famous. My goals have been to just win as many Grand Slams as possible, become No. 1 in the world. But the idea of

fame never really crossed my mind.

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The Post-Game Press-Conference Transcript was provided by ASAP Sports