NEW YORK, 5:58 PM—BIANCA ANDREESCU WINS THE US OPEN, 6-3, 7-5.
First, a thought on Serena Williams: she comes up short on major No. 24 for the fourth consecutive Grand Slam final. She didn’t win a single set in any of those matches.
Today, she made a stirring rally from 1-5 down in the second set—I’ve rarely, if ever, heard the US Open louder.
Even in defeat, Serena makes the moment bigger. Bianca’s breakthrough win is even more special because of it.
“If anyone else could win the US Open—except for Venus—I’m glad it’s Bianca,” Williams graciously said during the on-court interview.”
“Oh man, it wasn’t easy at all,” Andreescu said about the match. “I’m really proud with how I dealt with everything.”
Andreescu was asked about the hardest part of crossing the finish line.
“Definitely the crowd,” she said. (It was a fair but clearly partisan crowd.) “I know you wanted Serena to win—I’m sorry!”
I’m guessing this tweet of congratulations, from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, made Bianca feel a little better:
5:54 PM—Andreescu leads, 6-5: Andreescu snaps a four-game losing streak with a hold. Pressure, at least for the time being, back on Williams.
A man in a #66 Team Canada hockey jersey—but without the LEMIEUX nameplate—walks by with a look of concern. Is Andreescu’s stumble a karmic result of that jersey faux pas?
5:50 PM—5-5, second set: Taken to 30-30, Williams hits a second serve that Andreescu can’t keep in the court. At 40-30, the same sequence occurs.
A clearly rattled Andreescu will serve to Serena, who has upped her intensity as she’s upped her game count. Crowd at full bellow. Read More
