Bianca Andreescu becoming the first tennis player to be awarded the Lou Marsh Trophy as Canada’s athlete of the year.
Bianca Andreescu completed her historic 2019 season with another win Monday, becoming the first tennis player to be awarded the Lou Marsh Trophy as Canada’s athlete of the year.
She won in style, too, having been voted the recipient unanimously by a panel of 24 Canadian sports media members.
The 19-year-old tennis phenom from Mississauga began the season ranked 152nd in the world. She finished 2019 having reached a career-high fourth in the global ranking — the highest a Canadian as ever stood in the history of the Women’s Tennis Association rankings — after becoming Canada’s first Grand Slam singles champion with an upset of Serena Williams in the U.S. Open final.
That victory, along with wins the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, Calif. and the Rogers Cup in Toronto, where she became the first Canadian woman to win the national tournament in 50 years, helped propel her up the rankings, where she finished the season fifth overall.
“Wow, I’m so thankful for this award. I was not expecting it and to be the first tennis player to win is even more surreal,” Andreescu said in a release from Tennis Canada. “None of my success this year would have been possible without the support from all of Canada. Canadian sports crushed it this year so there are definitely many other athletes who deserve a piece of this award as well — we all motivate each other to be better. I can’t wait for what 2020 will bring and am always proud to represent Canada at the highest level.”
Andreescu earned more than $6.5 million US in winnings on the season and lost just four completed matches, with a 48-7 record including injury retirements. She went on a 17-match win streak, the longest of the year, and was 8-0 against players ranked in the top 10.
Her impressive season, which also saw her battle shoulder and knee injuries, also earned her nominations for the WTA’s player of the year and newcomer of the year awards.
Andreescu was the clear favourite in a group of five finalists that included golfer Brooke Henderson, St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington, sprinter Andre De Grasse and Atlanta Braves pitcher Mike Soroka.
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Canada Press 12/9/2019 |
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