2019 Rogers Cup Toronto @ Aviva Centre, Aug. 3-11, 2019

Posted by BK on August 18, 2019 in Life & Culture, Sports Highlight | Leave a comment

By Bill Kwan&Kimberly Samnang.
Photography by A.J. Lam.

Bianca Andreescu, at only 19 years old, into her third professional season, entered the finals against Serena Williams, former world number 1, with 23 Grand Slams on her reel, winning the 2019 Rogers Cup.

During the 4th game of the first set, Serena called for a medical time out, walked over to her seat, and started sobbing uncontrollably, in pain. The trainer ran over and within minutes, the chair umpire announced she was retiring, which gave Bianca the win, as the first Canadian woman, (um, teenager), to win the Rogers Cup in 50 years. Faye Urban held the last title in 1969. Bianca beat Karolina Plíšková (Czech) in the quarter finals, and Sofia Kenin (USA) in the semis.

Bianca, described by Serena as an old soul, wise beyond her years, consoled Serena, gave her a pep talk, and gave her a concerned warm sisterly hug before moving to the trophy presentation.

During the post-game press conference, Bianca was asked by a reporter, “at what point she knew Serena was injured?” Bianca, stunned, answered, “I actually had no idea she was injured, at all.”

We would like to thank, Oliver Wheeler, Coordinator, Communications, Tennis Canada for this invitation.