Serena, Mouratoglou shut down chances of repeat final drama

By Nina PanticPublished September 06, 2019

NEW YORK—The US Open final will see heavy favorite Serena Williams take on a young, first-time Grand Slam finalist. Does this storyline sound familiar?

If you ask Serena or her coach Patrick Mouratoglou though, Saturday will not see a repeat of the drama that unfolded when Serena lost to Naomi Osaka 12 months ago.

"He knows better than to say that to me," Serena said, when she was told that Mouratoglou said he would coach in the stands again. "I think he was just playing with you guys. That's not an option for me."

"It's not going to happen, so I won't have to do it again," Mouratoglou said.

Serena's opponent will not be Osaka, but Canadian Bianca Andreescu. The 19-year-old hasn't lost a completed match since early March. Both Mouratoglou and Serena had very good things to say about the world No. 15.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 05: Bianca Andreescu of Canada celebrates after winning the first set during her Women's Singles semi-final match against Belinda Bencic of Switzerland on day eleven of the 2019 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 05, 2019 in the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) — © Getty Images

Andreescu beat Belinda Bencic on Thursday to reach her first major final. (Getty)

"As I said before the tournament, I had been asked who are my two underdogs, and I said Bianca and [Daniil] Medvedev," Mouratoglou said. "So I'm not surprised she's there. I expected her in final, and I think she's going to be No. 1 soon. I mean, not too soon but in the future, because she has everything that's needed to be No. 1."

Andreescu has proven she's the real deal with title wins in Indian Wells and Toronto (where she was up 3-1 against Serena before the 37-year-old had to retire.)

"She really knows how to mix up the game and play different shots in different ways. Above all, I just like her as a person. She's amazing," Serena said. "She's very exciting to watch. I think it's great for women's tennis."

Andreescu and Serena will both be chasing history on Saturday: Serena is looking to tie Margaret Court's Grand Slam title record of 24, while Andreescu is trying to become the first Canadian major singles champion in history.

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