Canadian teen Andreescu tops Kerber to capture first WTA title
BNP Paribas Open winner says: ‘If you believe in yourself, anything is possible’
Canadian Bianca Andreescu has her first WTA title.
The unseeded 18-year-old from Mississauga, Ont., upset eighth-seeded German Angelique Kerber 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 in the women’s final at the BNP Paribas Open on Sunday.
“Hopefully this moment can be a great inspiration for many young athletes because like I always say; if you believe in yourself, anything is possible,” Andreescu said after the match in her on-court interview. “And like my mom always told me through the years, if you work hard, you dream big to get big, then you can accomplish so many things.
“That’s what I’ve been doing throughout many years and now this moment has become a reality so it’s really, really crazy.”
Kerber, a former world No. 1, praised Andreescu.
“Congratulations to Bianca for an unbelievable tournament,” Kerber said. “You just played amazing the whole tournament and so you deserve to win the title here.”
The Canadian was also gracious to her German opponent.
“You are an incredible champion and an inspiration.”
Andreescu has become a major story on the women’s circuit this year. With the victory Sunday, Andreescu has won 28 of 31 matches this season and becomes the first wild-card entry to capture this event. She is projected to rise 36 spots to No. 24 in the WTA Tour rankings on Monday.
Andreescu earned US$1,354,010 for the victory and received lavish praise from none other than the legendary Rod Laver.
“A star is born, congratulations @Bandreescu — what a fighter you are,” Laver tweeted.
The Canadian followed in the footsteps of Naomi Osaka, who was a little-known 20-year-old when she won the title last year.
Osaka used it as a springboard to win titles at the U.S. and Australian opens while ascending to the No. 1 ranking in January.
“Yeah, it’s been a crazy ride. Truly a Cinderella story. Naomi did this last year. And now to be able to have my name in front of so many amazing champions is — it means the world to me,” said Andreescu.
Andreescu needed roughly 40 minutes to take the opening set.
Neither player served well — Andreescu was 60 per cent on first serve while Kerber was at 67 per cent — but the Canadian held serve throughout and won all of the points on her second serve, compared to just 55 per cent for Kerber.
The German also had 14 unforced errors in the opening set.
After Kerber held serve to go ahead 5-2 in the second set, Andreescu showed her frustration by repeatedly banging her racket.
The two then held serve, with Kerber serving out the set 6-3.
Kerber played a much more aggressive game in the second set as Andreescu had 19 unforced errors. And the German was 1-for-1 in break chances while the Canadian was 0-for-2.
The two again held serve to start the third set but Andreescu required medical treatment on her right arm/shoulder after going ahead 2-1.
However, the German took control of the set with a break to go ahead 3-2 when Andreescu put a shot into the net.
At the break, Andreescu told her coach, Sylvain Bruneau, “My feet were burning” and that she was having trouble moving. Bruneau calmly encouraged his pupil to continue battling and competing.
Andreescu took the advice to heart. She broke Kerber to tie the match 3-3, held serve to surge ahead 4-3, then broke the German again for a commanding 5-3 advantage with the chance to serve for the title. Andreescu had three championship points but couldn’t pull the trigger.
Kerber secured the break when Andreescu’s attempted drop shot went into the net to pull to within 5-4 as the Canadian received some treatment on her right leg at the break.
Again, Andreescu looked fine once play resumed, capping her impressive tournament run by converting the fourth championship point for the break and career first.
“I just want to enjoy this moment, because I don’t want to take anything for granted,” said Andreescu.
“You never know what next week brings. I just want to savour this.”
And like my mom always told me ... if you work hard, you dream big to get big, then you can accomplish so many things.