Bianca Andreescu, 19 years-old, had not lost a full WTA match since March 1st. She had convincingly won the U.S. Open last September. Ironically she never had to play the defending champion of that event, 21 year-old, Naomi Osaka. But she did last Friday in the China Open.
It was a bold, daring match with a roller coaster of emotions and shots. Andreescu won the first set and was up a break in the second. Then the marvelous speed, power and grace under pressure of Naomi Osaka penetrated the dark clouds of the contest.
In the end it was Osaka rallying to win in three, stunning sets. I am nearly certain that night people all over the planet were watching the birth of the most intense, future rivalry in Women’s tennis. If you love the game as much as I do there is one word to describe it. Bravo!
H. Robert Rubin, best-selling Amazon memoirist and author of Look Backward Angel and How Did I Get Through This? available on Amazon
Pilgrim on a Long, Long Journey 