Golden age hasn't arrived

Andreescu's 2019 Grand Slam win Canada's lone major individual trophy

- DAMIEN COX

Injuries have slowed Bianca Andreescu's career, Damien Cox writes, but when healthy enough to compete, she's always part of the discussion because, well, former Grand Slam winners always are.

Five years ago, Canadian tennis reached a new level, and a lot more seemed in the offing.

Bianca Andreescu stunned Serena Williams in the women’s singles final of the 2019 U.S. Open, following up on her win at the Rogers Cup earlier that month, also over Williams. It was the first victory in a Grand Slam singles final by a Canadian player.

It was exhilarating. It was historic. It caught the attention of Canadians all over the country, and a few months later Andreescu was named Canada’s athlete of the year for 2019.

At that point, it just seemed a matter of waiting to see how the talented and charismatic Andreescu would follow up on her victory at Flushing Meadows, and to see what other Canadian would follow in her footsteps.

Sadly, neither has happened. Andreescu hasn’t been able to do very much of note since 2019, and we’re still waiting for Canada’s next earth-shaking tennis triumph.

Moreover, with the 2024 U.S. Open just getting underway, it would be surprising — shocking, really — if a Canadian were to win the men’s or women’s singles in New York, or any of the four Grand Slam titles in the conceivable future.