Bianca Andreescu seeking ‘ultimate goal’ of world number one spot

After a 2019 season she concedes was “a Cinderella story”, Bianca Andreescu says her dream would be complete if she reaches number one in the world.

Bianca Andreescu is enjoying the deserved fanfare for her spectacular 2019 breakthrough season on the WTA Tour.

Still a teenager, the Canadian ended last year as a little known player ranked 178 in the world but has now found global fame as the US Open champion.

A stunning year that also saw Andreescu earn two huge WTA titles at the Indian Wells Open and Rogers Cup led to her winning the Lou Marsh Trophy, the award given to Canada’s best athlete, which she collected on Tuesday.

More from Lob and Smash

• Caroline Wozniacki gets her wild card for the Australian Open
• Tennis News: Rafael Nadal, Emma Raducanu and protected rankings
• Martina Navratilova: Money lost by coming out was in the ‘millions’
• Tennis News: Novak Djokovic, Nick Kyrgios and Matteo Berrettini
• Boris Becker and Rick Macci bicker over Carlos Alcaraz

Already the first Canadian to win a Grand Slam, she also became the first tennis player to win the Lou Marsh Trophy, doing so after a unanimous vote in her favour.

But Andreescu’s discussions with reporters as she collected the honour also made it clear she has been busy setting new goals with the 2020 WTA campaign fast approaching.

She acknowledged 2019 was “a Cinderella story” that may never be topped, but nonetheless did not hold back with her ambitions for the upcoming 12 months.

Andreescu revealed her “ultimate goal” is to reach the world number one spot. It is a realistic target, given she is presently ranked at number 5 and was as high as 4 in the aftermath of her US Open triumph, which was sealed with a dramatic win over Serena Williams in the final.

Another Grand Slam title was also mentioned among Andreescu’s targets along with staying injury free, something which she has found difficult up to now both before and after her rise to stardom.

Bear in mind she reached the top five despite missing huge periods of the season and, as things stand, she is still rehabbing a knee injury that hindered her at the WTA Finals, where she was only able to complete one match against Simona Halep.

In quotes carried by the Toronto Star, Bianca Andreescu discussed her upcoming goals with reporters as well as talking about how she was coping with her new-found fame.

"“I don’t know how 2020 can be better than 2019,” she said.“2019 was a Cinderella story. But if I could choose something, it would have to be accomplish my ultimate goal, which is to become number one in the world.“And hopefully win another Grand Slam. And stay healthy as much as possible.“I guess there can be a bit more pressure on my shoulders since I’m top five. I’m a favourite to win at Grand Slams now. But I think that motivates me. Pressure really raises my game to the next level. That’s why I’ve done so well in bigger matches, like against Serena. I try to use it as a challenge.“I’ve always dreamt about being number one in the world. I’ve always dreamt of winning Grand Slams. But I never realized all the things that go along with it, like the media attention. Ever since I was little, I’ve always been a low-key kind of person. This really isn’t my area. It helps for me not to get caught up in it.”"

Already a national hero, the Olympics next year will be another motivation for Andreescu in a packed 2020 calendar.

The 19-year-old aims to remain fully focused on what she does on the court despite the extra scrutiny she now faces from fans and the media off it.

Her year will start in Auckland, where she made her first 2019 breakthrough by making the final of the ASB Classic.

She could end up playing Serena in a US Open final rematch as the American is part of a star-studded field that also includes 15-year-old sensation Coco Gauff. Soon after, of course, comes the Australian Open.

Bianca Andreescu will capture plenty of attention once more and this time she will have the full focus of tennis fans right from the start of the year.