'Oh my god': Teenager stuns US Open in never-before-seen moment
Bianca Andreescu has produced an extraordinary comeback to storm into the US Open final, where Serena Williams awaits.
The 19-year-old Canadian was down 2-5 in the second set of her semi-final clash with Belinda Bencic on Thursday, with Bencic serving to send it to a deciding set.
BRUTAL: Margaret Court cops savage takedown in Serena Williams win
But Andreescu did the unthinkable as she broke Bencic three times and won the final five games of the match to advance 7-6 (3), 7-5, becoming the first Canadian woman to make the final in New York.
Andreescu put her hands to her head in shock, mouthing “oh my god” as she welled up with tears after clinching the match.
The tennis world couldn’t believe the crazy comeback.
Oh my god!!!!!!!!! @Bandreescu_ You’re amazing!!! That was so cool !!!!
— Diana Swain (@swaindiana) September 6, 2019
Bianca Andreescu defeats Belinda Bencic 7-6(3) 7-5 to reach the US Open final in her first ever appearance in the main draw.
She is now 44-4 (92%) this year, on a 13 match winning streak and the last time she lost a completed match was March 1st. Insane.— Tumaini Carayol (@tumcarayol) September 6, 2019
Bianca Andreescu is stone cold. Unbelievable performance. 44-4 this year is insane. #USOpen
— Adam Hunter (@AHiddyCBC) September 6, 2019
Yes, @Bandreescu_, this is definitely REAL LIFE! 🇨🇦🙌
See you on Saturday in the final... 😉#USOpen pic.twitter.com/v5df41niQq— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 6, 2019
Absolutely insane performance @Bandreescu_ 🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦 #SheTheNorth
— Jordan (@_JordanRivera) September 6, 2019
That was an insane comeback @Bandreescu_! Go get that title!
— Wade Tipper (@WadeTipper) September 6, 2019
Unbelievable 🎾 #Andreescu https://t.co/g30JjdRIIu
— Marjorie Dowhos (@marjoriedowhos) September 6, 2019
BIANCA ANDREESCU: "If someone told me a year ago that I'd be in the finals of the US Open this year, I'd tell them: you're crazy."
PAM SHRIVER: "I would've told them the same thing. I don't think i'd heard of you almost a year ago!"
😂😂😂#USOpen— Matt Trollope (@MattyAT) September 6, 2019
Serena awaits for Andreescu
Andreescu, who has already won titles at Indian Wells and Toronto during her breakout 2019 season, unleashed a torrent of bruising groundstrokes to defeat the Swiss on a warm night at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Momentum shifted on the first point of the first set tiebreak when Bencic double-faulted and her previously immaculate play began to crumble and Andreescu cruised from there.
Bencic finally broke Andreescu to open the second set but despite stretching her lead to 4-1 and 5-2, Andreescu fed off the supportive crowd to level at 5-5 after another costly Bencic double fault.
Andreescu booked her ticket to her first grand slam final when Bencic sent a forehand into the net on match point to end the tense first-time encounter.
The final will pit power against power when Andreescu takes on her childhood hero Williams, who claimed her first US Open title in 1999 before Andreescu was even born.
Despite being sidelined at times with injury this year, Andreescu has been a giant slayer when healthy, posting a 7-0 record against top 10 opponents while posting a 33-4 record overall.
Her route to the final has included wins over former World No.1 Caroline Wozniacki and rising Belgian Elise Mertens.
Thursday's win marks a remarkable turnaround for the Ontario native who was born to Romanian parents in 2000.
Andreescu lost in the first round of US Open qualifiers last year and finished 2018 ranked World No.178, but will be at least No.9 on Monday and No.5 if she can upset Williams.
In their only previous meeting Andreescu led Williams 3-1 at the Rogers Cup final in Toronto last month before the 37-year-old was forced to retire due to back spasms.
with Reuters