Serena Williams won the 2010s, who will dominate the next WTA decade?
By Chris Myson
Bianca Andreescu
Age during the next decade: 19-29
WTA ranking now: 5
Career titles: 3
This time last year, Bianca Andreescu was barely known by any fans outside of the most avid tennis followers.
She was yet to make an impact on the WTA Tour and had struggled with injuries that had been hindering her attempts to qualify for Grand Slams and the other top tournaments.
But the Canadian enters 2020 as a household name, having beaten Serena Williams in the US Open final to win the tournament on her first time playing in the main draw at Flushing Meadows.
Andreescu, the world number five and WTA Newcomer of the Year, embarked on a remarkable winning streak in 2019 where she did not lose a completed match between her defeats on March 2 and October 4.
She has stated her “ultimate goal” is to reach world number one. Her results, along with her calmness and ability to rise to the occasion under pressure in big moments during her breakout year suggest she is capable as long as her injury demons do not strike.
Andreescu has acknowledged she and her team must find a way to reduce the chances of her being struck down by regular injuries, which at the moment are her biggest barrier to success.
At just 19, Andreescu should have plenty of peak years ahead of her and is ideally placed in the race to win the most majors in the 2020s given she is already competitive at the top of the game right from the moment the new decade begins.
Her hard court form, which also included big tournament wins at the Indian Wells Open and the Rogers Cup this year, makes her a top contender for the upcoming Australian Open.
The Australian Open and US Open both take place on that surface, which is also a boost to her hopes of long-term success in majors, though she is yet to have a proper chance to prove herself on clay and grass either.
If she shines at the French Open or Wimbledon in addition to what she has shown on hard courts so far, her rivals in the 2020s would have reason for major concern.