Serena's unfulfilled dream: 19-year-old Andreescu beat Williams in the US Open final

The story of Serena Williams chasing the 24th victory in the Grand Slam tournaments, which would allow her to repeat the record of the legendary Australian Margaret Court, has long turned into one of the most anticipated stories in the sport. However, he can not come true.

Likewise, fans were waiting for Alexander Ovechkin to win the Stanley Cup or continue to hope that Lionel Messi would win the tournament with the national team of his country - these were the details that they lacked or continue to miss in order to finally become great athletes.

Williams, of course, earned the title of the greatest tennis player, but in this sport there is a tricky clause "in the Open Era." The 37-year-old athlete won 23 Grand Slam tournaments, an absolute record for a new era. Court, on the other hand, won part of his titles when it was much easier for an upscale player to do so. Men at one time managed to overtake the brightest athletes who spoke before the start of the Open Era, and Williams alone continues to fight for all women's tennis. No one in the foreseeable future except her will be able to rewrite history, and the American herself has only one step to do.

She cannot take this step since she won the Australian Open in 2017. Due to the birth of her daughter, Williams missed one calendar year, but returned to a very high level to finish the job. At seven Grand Slam tournaments, the ex-first racket of the world reached the finals four times. But then she suffered one defeat after another - from Angelica Kerber, from Naomi Osaka, from Simone Halep.

And now, an attempt to repeat the record Court was nipped by 19-year-old Canadian Bianca Andreescu. Her climbing story is also amazing. A year ago, she, as befits a very young tennis player, was in the third hundred of the WTA rating, and at the US Open she already lost in the first round of qualification. But this season, the daughter of Romanian immigrants who settled in Canada, made an incredible breakthrough.

Andreescu won the Indian Wells Super Tournament and began to be among the seeders at Grand Slam tournaments. She could not seize this opportunity due to injuries. But Canada actually approached its first US Open without any health problems and, in addition, with the title in Toronto, which she won thanks to Williams's refusal to continue the fight in the final.

In their new meeting, now in the decisive match of US Open, rivals set a record for age difference for Grand Slam tournaments. Before them, he belonged to Martina Navratilova and Monica Seles, arguing for a victory here in New York in 1991. Then the difference between them was 17 years. Williams is almost 19 years older than Andreescu.

In the first game, it became clear that the American is not ready to win her 24th title. She immediately made five unforced errors, including two consecutive doubles, giving her filing to the Canadian. This break became decisive for the first set. Williams could not rehabilitate in any way, and Andreescu soon made another attempt to increase the gap due to speed and the lack of her own misfires. The second break happened at the 14th racket of the world with a score of 5: 3, and again the opponent’s double mistake helped. Williams lost the seventh consecutive set in the Grand Slam finals.

The second set also began unsuccessfully for the American. Although she was able to finally make a break, but then never losing to rivals from the top 10, Andrescu made a breakthrough from three games in a row. In the fourth, she even earned three matchballs. But Williams did not say goodbye to the fans so early. She nevertheless showed the tennis that she was waiting for and which, in childhood, was equal to Andrescu. Having won 16 draws from the next 20, Williams evened the score on games.

Canada was ready for such a turn of events and did not flinch. Having taken the game on her serve, she again worked perfectly at the reception and did not allow her opponent to hope for a tie-break. Andreescu won the US Open, becoming the first winner under 20 years after Maria Sharapova in 2006.

“Before this match I had a lot of experiences - more than before any other. Get together in the finals with Serena ... From the very climb up to the match I just tried to breathe as much as possible. Then she monitored her breath throughout the game to control stress. It was not at all easy, but this year I can do it very well, ”Andrescu said after the match.

Sealed with a kiss 😘🏆 @ Bandreescu_ | #USOpen | # WomenWorthWatchingpic.twitter.com / XNAq0ZkqD5

Williams admitted that she showed one of the worst matches, but paid tribute to her rival, who no less deserved the champion title.

“Today she showed an assertive rather than versatile game. I especially did not let her play versatile. I like Bianca. In my opinion, she is wonderful. But this match is perhaps the worst of those that I had for the entire tournament. It's hard when you know that you could do better. Apparently, you just need to put up. What can I say ... ”- the 23-time winner of the majors still noted.

Williams never learned from all of her previous defeats in the finals. Playing only in Grand Slam tournaments, where in the first rounds she does not get strong rivals, she has lost the habit of a tense struggle from more motivated tennis players. The American is still easy to get to the finals, but she does not cope with someone who is the future or the present of women's tennis. The next attempt to win the title awaits Williams at the Australian Open, and for this tournament she will definitely need the most intense practice.