Bianca Andreescu: Teenager beats Serena Williams in US Open final to win first Grand Slam

Canadian youngster stuns 23-time major winner in New York

Bianca Andreescu kisses the US Open trophy (AP)

Canadian teenager Bianca Andreescu beats Serena Williams in the US Open final to claim her first Grand Slam title.

Andreescu took charge early in the match, going up by a set and two breaks, then held off a late charge by Williams to win 6-3, 7-5 for the championship Saturday night.

The 19-year-old is the first woman to win the US Open in her tournament debut in the Open era, which began in 1968.

Her victory on Saturday prevented Williams from claiming what would have been her record-tying 24th major singles championship.

This is the second year in a row that Williams has lost in the US Open final. This one had none of the controversy of 2018, when she got into an extended argument with the chair umpire while being beaten by Naomi Osaka.

She has now been the runner-up at four of the seven majors she has entered since returning to the tour after having a baby two years ago.

Andreescu displayed the same sort of big serving and big hitting that Williams usually does. Williams was not at her best, either, getting tight at key moments, including double-faulting on the last point of three games to get broken.

She went up 5-1 in the second set and served for the victory there, even holding a match point at 40-30. But Williams erased that with a forehand return winner off a 105 mph serve.

That launched a four-game run for Williams, who broke Andreescu again to make it five-all. The Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd was overwhelmingly supporting Williams, not surprisingly, and spectators got so loud as she tried to put together a successful comeback that Andreescu covered her ears with her hands after one point.

Suddenly, this was a contest.

But as well as Andreescu handled everything — herself, her far-more-experienced and successful opponent, and even the moment — Williams was far from her best, especially while serving. She got broken for the sixth time in the final game.

Andreescu only has participated in four majors in her brief career.

A year ago, Andreescu was losing in the opening round of qualifying.

On Saturday, there she was, putting her hands on her head, dropping her racket and then pumping her fists when it ended. After a hug from a smiling Williams at the net, Andreescu kissed the blue court and rolled onto her back, soaking in the applause.