Unseeded 18-year-old Bianca Andreescu defeated 8th seed — and reigning Wimbledon Champion — Angelique Kerber, at Indian Wells’ BNP Paribas Open yesterday to secure the biggest tournament win in Canadian tennis history.
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Canadian Queen of the Desert 🇨🇦 @Bandreescu_ becomes the first wild card in tournament history to claim the #BNPPO19 women’s singles title after finishing her dream run in #TennisParadise
📝: https://t.co/mFb87B1LLJ pic.twitter.com/4JqmmD75x1
— BNP Paribas Open (@BNPPARIBASOPEN) March 18, 2019
The Mississauga, ON, native had already become the first WTA wild card entry to ever reach the final at this Masters 1000 level tournament, before going on to beat former World #1 Kerber 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 in a hard fought battle in the final.
The joy. The celebration. An unforgettable week. 👏 @Bandreescu_ #BNPPO19
— BNP Paribas Open (@BNPPARIBASOPEN) March 17, 2019
Andreescu’s first-ever WTA title will have her skyrocket from a world #60 ranking all the way to #24 as of Monday. And everyone from the the Toronto Raptors to Prime Minister Trudeau tweeted their congratulations to the teen:
Your #BNPPO19 champ 🎾
Congrats, @Bandreescu_! pic.twitter.com/blJsnM1XGg
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) March 18, 2019
From a wild card to the Indian Wells champion – Bianca Andreescu just made history. Congratulations, @Bandreescu_! #BiancaRising 🎾🇨🇦 https://t.co/0IBTOfcZQH
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) March 18, 2019
Andreescu won’t get to enjoy her success for very long though, she’s already set to play 70th ranked Romanian Irina-Camelia Begu in the first round of the Miami Masters 1000 tournament early this week.