Let’s be honest, there’s really only one thing you need to draw from this week’s Rogers Cup: Bianca Andreescu is no longer a rising star — she’s arrived.
The 19-year-old Canadian’s victory at the tournament Sunday is going down in history.
For more on her spectacular return to form — which culminated in her second WTA career title, and second of her 2019 breakout — and four other noteworthy takeaways, read on.
Andreescu makes history
It’s not the ending either player wanted, nor the fans.
But it’s one of the greatest results by a Canadian tennis player of all time.
“It’s not the way I wanted to win, but a win is a win. So I’m really, really happy,” Andreescu admitted to reporters Sunday.
And 19-year-old Andreescu consoling one of the most decorated tennis players in history — who turned pro five years before the resident of Thornhill, Ont., was even born — after being forced to retire from an upper-back injury, undoubtedly showed championship sportsmanship.
“Yo, I’ve watched you your whole career, you’re a f—ing beast,” a kneeling Andreescu told a teary-eyed Serena Williams as she sat courtside.
“This sucks.”
It’s clear it came from a place of understanding and admiration.
The teenage phenom and 2019 Indian Wells winner, who will see her ranking jump to No. 14 in the world, entered this week’s Rogers Cup coming off a months-long recovery from a recurring shoulder injury and surpassed all expectations by becoming the first Canadian to capture the tournament since 1969.
And she earned it, winning four straight three-set matches — from the first round to the quarterfinals — and beating two top-five players (she’s 6-0 vs. top-10 players this season, excluding William’s retirement) en route her victory in the final.
While young tennis stars are prone to burn fast and brightly, then fading into the night’s sky, with two titles under her belt in her nascent career, Andreescu isn’t ruling out an even greater conquest in 2019 — a Grand Slam.
“This has definitely got my confidence level up here, being able to deal with all the pressure and all the expectations from everyone.”
“I’m just really proud with how I dealt with everything. And hopefully, this win can give me momentum into the U.S. Open.”
Nadal keeps on winning
Very few things can stop Rafael Nadal, especially at the Rogers Cup.
Novak Djokovic — who owns a 52 per cent winning percentage against the Spaniard — and injuries are on the shortlist.
And the 33-year-old proved that once again Sunday, claiming his fifth Rogers Cup win and defending a hard-court title for the first time after easily dispatching Daniil Medvedev. The victory puts him one back of Ivan Lendl for most singles wins at the tournament (6).
With the win, Nadal also put even more distance between himself and world No. 1 Djokovic for most Masters 1000 series titles (35 to 33).
He also increased his all-time singles titles to 83 since joining the ATP Tour in 2001, putting him 11 back of Lendl and 26 from Jimmy Connors. Roger Federer is second with 102.
Raonic can’t stay on the court
Milos Raonic said the final 30 minutes of his second-round match against countryman Felix Auger-Aliassime were likely “the least enjoyable” he’s ever spent on a tennis court.
Ouch.
The 28-year-old from Thornhill, Ont., who retired from the match with an injury, has been hampered by ailments injuries this season, and throughout his career.
He pulled out of the French Open due to injury, as well as last year’s, and the Miami Open because of an issue with his right knee.
The hard-serving Canadian opted not to answer whether the latest injury to his back and glute would affect his participation at the Cincinnati Masters or the U.S. Open.
But he didn’t shy away from voicing his frustration.
“I just keep trying to pinpoint, figure out what the right step is. I keep getting assured there’s nothing extensively serious about the back in that sense. I feel like I just try to adjust the exercises I do with the training. Hopefully, I can sort of figure it out,” Raonic told reporters Wednesday, adding that he’s had four MRIs on his back this year.
“Nobody’s been telling me there’s a reason for me not to be playing right now or to be fearing some serious, serious risk. Today was more painful than it’s been in quite a long time … It hasn’t necessarily been the most enjoyable season so far.”
Felix rises
Besides Andreescu, Montreal native Auger-Aliassime had, perhaps, the most impressive tournament, making it to the third round in his debut at his hometown event.
Auger-Aliassime, who turned 19 years old Thursday, fell 7-6 (7), 5-7, 3-6 to No. 6 seed Karen Khachanov in just his third matchup with a top-10 player in his young career.
Like Andreescu, Auger-Aliassime has had a rapid ascent in 2019, surging from 109th to 21st in the ATP world rankings, heading into the tournament.
He’s accrued a 29-16 record since the start of the year, reaching five semifinals and three finals.
And, while he was hardly pleased with his result against Khachanov at home, his focus is was on taking the next step in his career.
“For sure frustrated because it was a big occasion. There was a lot of expectations, pressure, you name it. I think I handled that well,” Auger-Aliassime said Thursday
“But to be playing, in the end, good and to lead in a match, to have a chance to win… It’s tough to see it slip away, but there’s a reason for that. It just means that I still have things to improve to win these type of matches and to deal better with these type of moments.”
Shapo gets a shot of confidence
Denis Shapovalov may not have been able to recapture the magic of his run to the semifinals at the 2017 Rogers Cup, but the 20-year-old got a much-needed confidence boost by making it to the second round in Montreal.
Heading into the tournament the native of Richmond Hill, Ont., had taken a break from tennis to mentally reset from his recent struggles. He was on a five-match losing streak — and on a 2-9 run dating back to March — that he snapped in the first round.
Shapovalov went down in a three-set fight to world No. 4 Dominic Thiem, and hopes to carry the momentum into the Cincinnati Masters.
“Obviously, playing two great matches here was extremely important for me. It’s been a while since I played a match, been over like three weeks. It was great to be back out there just fighting,” he told reporters Wednesday.
It was enjoyable. I really enjoyed my two matches on court, even today losing. It was a lot of fun to kind of go out there, play against a great player like Dominic, really put it to the test, see what damage I can do.”
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August 12, 2019 at 06:09AM
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