FILE PHOTO - Bianca Andreescu of Canada hits a return shot against Elise Mertens of Belgium during their second round of the women's singles match in the China Open tennis tournament at the Diamond Court in Beijing, Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2019.
Image Credit: THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Andy Wong
December 09, 2019 - 11:00 AM
TORONTO - Tennis star Bianca Andreescu has won the 2019 Lou Marsh Trophy as Canada's athlete of the year.
She is the first tennis player to win the award. Andreescu, from Mississauga, Ont., became the first Canadian to win a Grand Slam singles title when she defeated American star Serena Williams in the final of the U.S. Open.
"Wow, I'm so thankful for this award. I was not expecting it and to be the first tennis player to win is even more surreal," said Andreescu. "None of my success this year would have been possible without the support from all of Canada."
The winner of the Toronto Star award is selected annually by a panel of sports journalists from across the country.
That star-making performance capped a stellar year for the 19-year-old, who also won the Rogers Cup in Toronto and the prestigious BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells, Calif.
She earned over US$6.5 million on the season and is ranked fifth in the world after starting the year ranked No. 152.
Other finalists included golfer Brooke Henderson, sprinter Andre De Grasse, Atlanta Braves pitcher Mike Soroka and St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington.
"Canadian sports crushed it this year so there are definitely many other athletes who deserve a piece of this award as well — we all motivate each other to be better," said Andreescu. "I can't wait for what 2020 will bring and am always proud to represent Canada at the highest level."
The Lou Marsh Trophy has been awarded annually since 1936 with a three-year hiatus during the Second World War.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 9, 2019.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2019