Bianca Andreescu gave Serena Williams a pep talk and called her 'a f------ beast' after the American lost the 2019 Rogers Cup final because of injury
- Serena Williams was called a "f------ beast" after withdrawing because of injury in the first set of the Rogers Cup final.
- Her retirement from the tournament saw the 19-year-old Canadian tennis player win the title in front of her hometown fans at the Aviva Centre in Toronto, Ontario.
- Rather than celebrate, Andreescu's immediate concern was Williams, who she embraced, appeared to offer a pep talk to, and hugged one more time before moving to the trophy presentation.
- Williams said "Bianca is a great girl" at the post-match press conference.
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Bianca Andreescu gave Serena Williams a pep talk and called her "a f------ beast" after the American lost the 2019 Rogers Cup final because of injury.
Williams lasted only four games before back spasms prevented her from being able to compete. When Andreescu was 3-1 up in the first set, having broken Williams in the third game, Williams cried, walked to her chair, and called her trainer.
She retired from the match, Andreescu had won.
But, while Williams was withdrawing, Andreescu walked across Centre Court at the Aviva Centre in Toronto, Ontario, got on her knees in front of the 37-year-old, and appeared to console the American.
"What's going on? Are you okay?" Andreescu could be heard saying in a Sportsnet clip. "Oh God, this sucks ... I've watched you for your whole career ... you're a f------ beast."
They then hugged before moving on to the trophy presentation.
Watch and listen to the embrace here:
"Bianca is a great girl," Williams said at the post-match press conference. "She's a fabulous personality … she's an old soul."
Williams defeated her 2018 US Open final rival Naomi Osaka and then semifinal opponent Marie Bouzkova to set up Sunday's showdown against Andreescu, and confirmed she experienced spasming in the build-up to Sunday's final.
"The most frustrating part is … I've had this before, it's 24 or 36 hours where I have crazy spasm and then I'm, like, done. I know I can play, I just can't play today," she said.
Her comments mean Williams will likely recover fully for the 2019 US Open, the fourth and final Grand Slam event of the year, which starts August 26.