Wildcard Bianca Andreescu, 18, shocks Angelique Kerber to win Indian Wells

California: Bianca Andreescu completed her emergence as the latest new star of women’s tennis after a scintillating three-set win over Angelique Kerber in the final of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells. The 18-year-old Canadian fought off exhaustion and held her nerve to triumph 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 over the three-time grand-slam champion, becoming the first wildcard winner of the prestigious event. Her $1.35m winner’s cheque dwarfs her previous career earnings of $350,000.
“This moment has become a reality so it’s really, really crazy,” Andreescu told the crowd after her victory. With her victory she followed in the footsteps of Naomi Osaka, who was a little-known 20-year-old when she won the title last year. Osaka used it as a springboard to win the US and Australian Opens while ascending to the No1 ranking in January.