US Open champion Andreescu feted in hometown

Bianca Andreescu, who beat Serena Williams in the US Open final to become Canada’s first Grand Slam singles champion, was honoured with a rally in her hometown on Sunday.
“I am truly blessed,” the beaming 19-year-old told hundreds gathered to celebrate her achievement.
“I did not get here overnight. There has been a lot of hard work and sweat that went into it, a lot of downs, a lot of ups.”
Bonnie Crombie, the mayor of Mississauga, a suburb of Toronto, presented Andreescu with a key to the city.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, in the midst of campaigning for second term, was also on hand.
“She is an inspiration to all Canadians old and young, but to be honest, especially an inspiration to young Canadians because she showed that young people can do anything,” Trudeau said.
Andreescu’s stunning 6-3, 7-5 victory at Flushing Meadows denied Williams a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title.
In the course of a year she has climbed from 200th in the world rankings to a career high fifth.
Her rise has been another source of pride for Canadian sports fans, who saw the Toronto Raptors claim the NBA championship in June.
The Raptors’ “We the North” slogan has been transformed for Andreescu to “She the North”.
“I’m really glad I never gave up because I wouldn’t be standing here with everyone,” Andreescu said. “If I can do it, if Serena can do it, if Roger (Federer) can do it, if the Raptors can do it, so can you.”

PLISKOVA QUALIFIES
FOR WTA FINALS
IN SHENZHEN
World number two Karolina Pliskova has become the second singles player to qualify for the season-ending WTA Finals in Shenzhen after top-ranked Ash Barty, the WTA Tour said yesterday.
The 27-year-old Czech won the inaugural Zhengzhou Open on Sunday, adding to trophies won in Brisbane, Rome and Eastbourne, and will make her fourth appearance in the Oct. 27-Nov. 3 Finals which offer $14 million in prize money.
“It’s always a goal of mine to qualify for the WTA Finals, and I’m proud to have done it for my fourth time. I look forward to competing against the best players of the season,” Pliskova told the WTA website
The big-serving Czech reached the semi-finals of the last two editions of the tournament held in Singapore, losing to eventual winner Caroline Wozniacki in 2017 and runner-up Sloane Stephens last year.
The top eight singles players will face off in a round-robin format with the winner taking home the Billie Jean King Trophy.