Serena Williams’s quest for a 24th Grand Slam title came unstuck again, as teenager Bianca Andreescu won her first major in a gripping US Open final.
37 year old Williams, could not cope with the 19-year-old Canadian’s quality in a 6-3 7-5 defeat.
Andreescu, seeded 15th, lost a double break in the second set before taking her third match point.
To the disappointment of a stunned home crowd, Williams has now lost four successive major finals.
“Bianca played an unbelievable match,” Williams told the crowd on Arthur Ashe Stadium. “I’m so proud and happy for you, it was incredible tennis out there.”
Williams, seeded eighth, looked edgy throughout as she aimed to match Australian Margaret Court’s tally of all-time major wins, handing over three of Andreescu’s five breaks of serve with double faults.
By contrast, Andreescu – playing in the US Open main draw for the first time – played with the confidence which has marked her out as a star in a stunning breakthrough year.
The Canadian is the first teenager to win a Grand Slam since Maria Sharapova claimed the 2006 title at Flushing Meadows.
