NEW YORK, USA - Bianca Andreescu joins the WTA Insider Podcast after her stunning run to her maiden major title, defeating Serena Williams 6-3, 7-5 in Saturday's dramatic final to win the US Open.
The Toronto native became the first Canadian to ever win a major singles title and her remarkable run in New York tied her with Monica Seles for the fastest route from Slam debutante to Slam champion, with both women winning their first Slam in just their fourth major appearance.
Andreescu's win over Williams, her second of the summer after the American was forced to retire in the Toronto final due to back injury, moved her record against Top 10 opponents to 8-0 in her career. Andreescu's winning streak now stands at 13 consecutive matches, and the teenager has not lost a completed match since the Acapulco semifinal on March 1st.
Having already captured Indian Wells and Toronto this year, the 19-year-old from Canada will make her debut in the Top 10 on Monday, rising to a career-high No.5, and zoom up the Porsche Race to Shenzhen to No.4.
Not bad for a player who started the season ranked outside the Top 150.
Hear Andreescu's full interview on the WTA Insider Podcast below.
WTA Insider: What are you most proud of as you reflect on your two weeks at the US Open?
Andreescu: I'm just really proud of how I dealt with every match. I'm at a Grand Slam. That's not easy because there's obviously a lot of pressure -- the pressure I put on myself, the pressure from Canada. I'm sure everyone there wants me to win but obviously I want myself to win.
So if I go out there and play my game and give my best that's all that matters to me, and I've been doing that for two weeks.
WTA Insider: I saw some discussion online from Canadian reporters that called this, possibly, the greatest individual sporting achievement by a Canadian athlete and the country has been going crazy for you throughout the tournament.
Andreescu: Every match I feel all their support from home just from being on social media. I've gotten a lot of shoutouts from many other athletes, Justin Trudeau, John Tory.
I'm really proud to be Canadian and I hope you guys keep supporting me because I am not done yet.
WTA Insider: When we spoke in Toronto, you said your goals for the rest of the year were to make your Top 10 debut and qualify for the Shiseido WTA Finals Shenzhen. You didn't even mention the US Open. So at what point did the idea that you could win the tournament become concrete?
Andreescu: Every tournament I go into I want to win it, of course. But actually winning it is so surreal, it's two different feelings there.
I think after my win against Taylor Townsend, that's when I actually, really believed I could win this. I fought against the crowd because they were really loud too -- it didn't compare to today -- but at least I got that experience before going into the final.
WTA Insider: You'll make your Top 10 debut at No.5 on Monday and rise to No.4 on the Porsche Race to Shenzhen. You've just won your first Slam. How do you reset your goals now?
Andreescu: I'm just going to keep striving for more. This is an incredible achievement, but like I said: I'm not done yet, I'm not satisfied yet. So I'm going to reevaluate those goals because I think goal-setting is a very important tool to have.
I'm trying to think of what other goals I accomplish this year. Let's say Top 3? And winning the WTA Finals.
WTA Insider: You have now won the first eight matches you have ever played against Top 10 opposition. That is an incredible stat. You've proven this year that you are a reliable big-match player. What do you think it is that makes you such a good big-match player?
Andreescu: I think it comes from the passion I have for this sport. When I step on the court against these top-level players I try and put on my best performance because if I don't, I'm going to get creamed. So I think my focus goes to another level.
All that mental strength that I seem to have is all because of the work I've been putting in on everything. And obviously experience is racking up.
WTA Insider: Speaking of experience, where have you gained the most experience this season?
Andreescu: Everything, really. I'm really pleased with how my game held up against certain players. My coach Sylvain always told me you can play against any player because you're able to adapt to any situation. Maybe he is right. I mean, I don't want to kid anyone but facts are facts. My results really showed that, so I'm pleased with that.
I'm pleased with my mental strength and the composure that I keep in tough circumstances, like at Indian Wells in front of big crowds like that, or here at the US Open, or even coming back from an injury and winning Toronto and having all those three-setters is really cool.
WTA Insider: You've been such a crowd favorite as either an underdog or a Canadian playing at home this year. I'm not sure you've really played against a partisan crowd like you did over the fortnight against Taylor Townsend and Serena.
Andreescu: I've never witnessed anything like I witnessed today. That's what makes the US Open special. The crowds go nuts.
But it's definitely a different feeling because I've been getting a lot of support from many other crowds. Even this week I heard so many Canadians come out and support. But it's part of the game. You just have to focus on the things you can control in those moments and I think I did a good job with that.
WTA Insider: We see you walking out on court with those large headphones. So what has been blasting in your ears at this tournament to motivate you?
Andreescu: I kind of like to listen to different songs when I go on, but the one that sticks out the most is "Non-Stop" by Drake.
WTA Insider: If you could choose a song to summarize your two weeks in New York, what would it be?
Andreescu: Hot Girl Summer by Megan Thee Stallion, Broke Leg by Tory Lanez, Go Viral by Joe Moses, 5AM in Toronto by Drake, Started From The Bottom by Drake, and Money in the Grave by Drake. Literally, money in the grave!
