Bianca Andreescu became the first Canadian to win the Rogers Cup since 1969 on Sunday after Serena Williams retired in the finals.
Trailing 3-1 just 16 minutes into the opening set in Andreescu’s home city of Toronto, Williams requested a medical timeout. Within a minute, Williams said she couldn’t go on.
Organizers announced on the tournament’s Twitter account that Williams had an upper back injury.
Williams, the eighth seed, rallied in Saturday’s semifinals to defeat qualifier Marie Bouzkova of Russia, 1-6, 6-3, 6-3. The runner-up last month at Wimbledon, Williams was trying to win her first title since the 2017 Australian Open.
This was the first tournament for the 19-year-old Andreescu since she suffered a right shoulder injury in May. The victory is her second WTA Premier title of the season.
As her retirement was announced to the crowd, Williams, a three-time Rogers Cup champion, began to cry. Andreescu walked to Williams’ bench, where the two hugged and exchanged pleasantries.
Not the ending we all expected, but what a moment for these two. ?????? ????’s @Bandreescu_ wins the @RogersCup after @serenawilliams retires due to an injury. #RC19 pic.twitter.com/N5eAAe5Ntw — Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) August 11, 2019
Not the ending we all expected, but what a moment for these two. ??????
????’s @Bandreescu_ wins the @RogersCup after @serenawilliams retires due to an injury. #RC19 pic.twitter.com/N5eAAe5Ntw
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) August 11, 2019
After the match, Andreescu talked about her championship week.
“I’m speechless right now,” she said. “I’m the first Canadian who got to the finals and has won this tournament since 1969. It’s a dream come true, really. This week has not been easy. I’ve had many, many tough matches and especially what I’ve been through the last two months have not been easy, but I kept telling myself not to give up.”
And she addressed Williams.
“Serena, you made me cry on the bench over there. I know how it is to pull out of a tournament and be injured. It’s not easy, and this isn’t the way I expected to win. … You’re truly a champion.”
Andreescu, a native of nearby Mississauga, Ont., was ranked 27th in the world entering the tournament. Her ranking is expected to rise to 14 on Monday.
The last Canadian to win the tournament was Faye Urban of Windsor, Ont., who beat Vicki Berner of Vancouver. It was then called the Canadian Open.
–Field Level Media (@FieldLevelMedia)
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