I would not be here”: Bianca Andreescu lauds inspiration on National Girls and Women in Sports Day
On National Girls and Women in Sports Day, rising tennis star Bianca Andreescu paid tribute to the trailblazers that paved the way for her career. Chief among them were legends Billie Jean King and Serena Williams.
“I’m truly standing on the shoulders of giants,” Andreescu remarked. “Without Billie Jean fighting for equality in the sport throughout her career and Serena breaking boundaries as an inspiration to so many, I would not be here today.”
King’s lifelong advocacy for women’s sports led to the creation of the WTA Tour in 1973. Meanwhile, Williams’ unprecedented domination cut a path for black athletes across all sports.
Andreescu, the first Canadian to win a Grand Slam singles title at the 2019 US Open, says these icons made her believe anything was possible on the tennis court.
“Seeing the GOAT Serena so often on my TV winning majors made me realize that I could one day be on that stage too,” she noted. “Even when faced with adversity, she persevered. That resilience in the face of obstacles resonated with me so much.”
Now that she has firmly established herself inside the world’s top 50 at 22 years old, Andreescu wants to have a similar influence on the next generation.
“I strive to be that same role model for other young girls in Canada and globally,” she said. “I hope my own journey can now inspire more girls out there to chase their tennis dreams.”
On this special awareness day, Bianca Andreescu makes sure to recognize those at the forefront who pushed forward equal representation for future female athletes like herself to thrive.
