It was meant to be the ultimate fairy tale ending – Serena Williams capturing her elusive 24th Grand Slam title on home soil at the 2019 U.S. Open. But a tenacious newcomer crashed the party and delivered one of tennis’ biggest upsets.
19-year-old Canadian Bianca Andreescu faced the towering task of stopping Serena’s quest for history in the finals. Ranked outside the top 150 just a year prior, Andreescu had suddenly skyrocketed as a rookie. Meanwhile, Serena looked destined to clinch the title she had chased for years.
From the start, Andreescu showed no fear against the legend across the net, playing with aggression and confidence. As Serena struggled to find her A-game, the youngster prevailed 6-3 in the first set.
With New York crowds gasping, Andreescu again handed Serena a shocking 7-5 defeat in the second set to claim the title. Serena searched for answers but came up empty.
While Serena was gracious in defeat, the anguish of falling short yet again was evident. She left the stage quickly holding back tears. Meanwhile, Andreescu had pulled off one of the most impressive U.S. Open upsets ever.
That unforgettable match reiterated Serena’s struggle to make history. But it also introduced a fearless rising phenom who announced herself with vigor. Two years later, we’re left pondering if Andreescu can recreate such magic.
