A Romanian-born Canadian shines in New York
Bianca Andreescu on Saturday won the women's singles trophy at the US Open
Bogdan Matei, 09.09.2019, 13:50
Romanian-born Canadian tennis
player Bianca Andreescu won her first Grand Slam title at Flushing Meadows in
New York. Bianca was over the moon with her 6-3, 7-5 win over US tennis legend
Serena Williams, 18 years her senior. Aged 19, Andreescu was ranked 15 in WTA
standings prior to the tournament, and as of today she will be ranked 5th.
Her performance at the US Open was remarkable. She lost only two sets overall.
The media dubs her one of the best players in the circuit at present, after
also winning the Indian Wells and Toronto tournaments earlier this year. I
don’t think I’ve lost a match since March, so my confidence is sky-rocketing
right now. I just don’t want to take anything for granted because there’s going
to be weeks where you’re going to lose, Bianca told the press, her maturity
and lucidity quite at odds with her young age.
Andreescu explained her play
style is quite challenging for the other players in the WTA circuit: When
I play my game I think nobody really likes that because I play a lot different
than other players on tour. I like to change up the rhythm and I’ve always been
like that and I just kept improving it. The new US Open champion also
admitted to her weaknesses: 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, Andreescu went on the say. Andreescu’s stunning win
at the US Open was celebrated in Canada at the International Film Festival in
Toronto, the famous actor Christopher Plummer conveying his congratulations. In
turn, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed his support for Bianca.
Romanian
fans too were over the moon for Bianca’s victory. Ten years ago Bianca took up
tennis right here, in Pitesti, southern Romania, living with her grandparents.
Like millions of other Romanians, Bianca’s parents moved abroad seeking a
better life, but made sure to instill in their little girl their love for their
home country. To all my Romanian friends, I want to say thank you for your
support, I love you, Bianca said recently. Bianca Andreescu is now the first
Canadian player to win a Grand Slam tournament. This is not the only success
story of a Romanian living in the Diaspora. France’s current Sports Minister,
Roxana Maracineanu, was the first French swimmer to become world champion 21
years ago. In 2000 she won silver at the Sydney Olympics, outranked only by
Romania’s Diana Mocanu. She wept when Romania’s national anthem was played,
feeling this was her anthem too.
(Translated by V. Palcu)
