US Open women’s final: Serena Williams vs. Bianca Andreescu preview and predictions

Serena Williams vs. Bianca Andreescu

• What: 2019 US Open women’s singles final
• When: Saturday 7 September
• Where: Arthur Ashe Stadium, Flushing Meadows, New York
• Start time: 9pm (BST)
• TV coverage: live on Amazon Prime

Serena Williams will get another chance to win a record-equalling 24th grand slam title when she goes up against Bianca Andreescu in the US Open women’s singles final on Saturday evening.

American icon Williams, a six-time champion in New York, surged into the final after beating Ukrainian fifth seed Elina Svitolina 6-3, 6-1 in the last four.

The 37-year-old is currently on 23 grand slam singles titles - one behind Margaret Court. This weekend’s final will be her fourth chance to tie Court’s record.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

Canadian 19-year-old Andreescu secured her first grand slam final spot with a 7-6 (7-3), 7-5 victory against Swiss Belinda Bencic in the semis.

Previous meeting

Andreescu and Williams have played each other once before, in the Rogers Cup final in August this year. Andreescu won the title in Toronto after Williams retired after four games because of an upper back injury.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For analysis of the biggest sport stories - and a concise, refreshing and balanced take on the week’s news - try The Week magazine. Get your first six issues free–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

What the finalists are saying

Serena Williams

“It’s really good. I mean, to be in yet another final, it seems honestly crazy. But I don’t really expect too much less. I definitely would still be playing if I had already passed it [Court’s record]. I’ve had so many chances to pass it and to have a lot more, but it’s cool because I’m playing in an era, like five eras with so many amazing players. If you look at the span of the career, the players I’ve played, it’s amazing that I was able to get this many.”

Bianca Andreescu

“I think it’s just all the hard work I’ve put in through the years. If someone told me a year ago I would be in the US Open final this year, I’d tell them they were crazy. It’s just surreal. I really don’t know what to say. It’s a dream come true playing against Serena in the final of the US Open. It’s crazy.”

Williams vs. Andreescu: how they match up

Serena Williams

• Nationality: American
• Age: 37
• Plays: right-handed
• World ranking: 8
• US Open seeding: 8
• WTA singles titles: 72
• Grand slam titles: 23

Bianca Andreescu

• Nationality: Canadian
• Age: 19
• Plays: right-handed
• World ranking: 15
• US Open seeding: 15
• WTA singles titles: 2
• Grand slam titles: none (first slam final)

Predictions: who will win in New York?

Tracey Essex, Last Word on Tennis: Williams in three sets

“This should be an absolute battle with the win crafted by the better play at the critical junctures. If Serena can remain clam and forget that she’s trying for the elusive 24th Slam title, she’ll be holding it at the end. Prediction: Williams in 3.”

Jim Smith, Last Word on Tennis: Williams in three sets

“This is a really difficult match to call. On paper Williams should be the favourite, but she has failed to live up to expectations in her last three grand slam finals. Andreescu, meanwhile, has never competed in a match of this magnitude before. This could well be a thriller, but if Williams can keep her composure, she should have enough to get across the line. Just. Prediction: Williams in 3.”

Tim Henman, Amazon Prime: Andreescu to win

“It’s amazing to see how far she’s come. For me, I feel she’s going to go all the way. Seeing her practice up, close and personal and it’s her variation. She serves well, she’s got a very dominant forehand where she can use a lot of different spins. I think she’s going to beat Serena in the final.”

Niranjan Deodhar, Sportskeeda: Williams in straight sets

“Can Serena hold firm this time around to end her grand slam drought or will Andreescu enjoy her biggest day to upset the legend of women’s tennis? In a battle between generations, it would be intriguing to witness how the story of the women’s final at this year’s US Open unfolds under the lights at the Arthur Ashe Stadium. Prediction: Serena Williams to win her record-equaling 24th major in straight sets.”