SportsBianca Andreescu, Canada's rising tennis star, attracts a crowd — of politicians

© Moe Doiron Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and U.S. Open tennis champion Bianca Andreescu at the

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. — Bianca Andreescu is the girl of the moment, and on the day she was honoured by her hometown of Mississauga, Ont., there probably wasn’t a politician within 50 miles who wasn’t going to be on the same stage with her.

The first Canadian to win a U.S. Open championship — and at the tender age of 19 — Andreescu showed that her fashion chops are almost as stellar as her tennis ones.

She wore khaki pants, a black lacy top and sky-high heels, and endearingly revealed that her goal was “not to trip” in them.

The Rise and Rise of Bianca Andreescu

Bianca Andreescu, a 19-year-old Canadian, will play her first Grand Slam final on Saturday against Serena Williams. After Andreescu defeated Belinda Bencic in the semifinals on Thursday night, Pam Shriver of ESPN told her in a postmatch interview that a year ago, “I don’t think I’d heard of you.” Shriver would not be alone. Andreescu has had a stunningly rapid rise to the top of tennis since this time last year, compiling a 44-4 record. Aug. 22, 2018 Ranking: 208 In the first round of the United States Open qualifying tournament, Andreescu loses to Olga Danilovic, 6-3, 7-5. Nov.

Bianca Andreescu , Canada ' s first Grand Slam singles champion, has climbed 10 spots in the women's tennis rankings to a career-high world No. 5 following her U.S. Open victory over American veteran Serena Williams on Saturday. Andreescu converted on her third championship point of the match

This US Open could be Bianca Andreescu ’ s chance to add a crowning moment to her sudden rise in women’ s tennis . Andreescu rose from relative obscurity by claiming the Indian Wells title in March. Following shoulder surgery that kept her out most of the summer, she won the Canadian Open when

Interestingly, as her win over the legendary Serena Williams a week ago has already seen Tennis Canada deluged with calls from youngsters wanting to take up the sport, so did her presence seem to have a salutary effect upon the politicians in attendance.

They were there certainly, but universally as gracious as the Queen B herself. Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie was good enough to invite Toronto Mayor John Tory and see that former Mississauga mayor Hazel McCallion, now 97, also got a special introduction.

Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau, who plunged into the huge crowd at Celebration Square to the usual warm welcome, stood by Andreescu on stage and made a nice speech that was properly all about her.

© TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP Bianca Andreescu’s parents Maria Andreescu and Nicu Andreescu watch as Bianca Andreescu of Canada plays Belinda Bencic of Switzerland during their semi-finals women’s Singles match at the 2019 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York on September 5, 2019.

“She is an inspiration to all Canadians, old and young, but to be honest, especially an inspiration to young Canadians because she showed that young people can do anything!” Trudeau shouted into a microphone.

Meet Bianca Andreescu, Canada's teen titan of tennis

In yet another 2019 moment that has left Canadian sports fans wondering if they’re dreaming, teenage tennis sensation Bianca Andreescu, of Mississauga, Ont., is within a racket-arm’s reach of clinching the U.S. Open. Now there’s just one little obstacle in the 19-year-old’s way: Serena Williams, who is about twice Andreescu’s age and debatably the best tennis player of all time. But Williams has been plagued by injuries of late, and is possibly past her peak. Andreescu, on the other hand, has rocketed up more than 100 places in the Women’s Tennis Association global rankings, from 152nd at the end of 2018 to 15th going into Saturday’s final match.

Bianca Andreescu has advanced to her first career Grand Slam final. Lindsay Dunn looks back at the meteoric rise of the 19-year-old Canadian tennis star as

Tennis fans in Toronto were on the edge of their seats as 19-year-old Bianca Andreescu made history, beating Serena Williams in two sets to take him the

He thanked Andreescu’s parents, immigrants from Romania, for moving to Canada before she was born.

“In this country, anything is possible, and you and so many Mississaugans have proven it!” Trudeau said.

Later, as the event was winding down and those on stage were leaving, Trudeau spent a few quiet minutes talking to McCallion. She endorsed him in 2015, and they probably know one another reasonably well, but it was nonetheless a nice nod to an old campaigner who fought more than a few wars herself.

The Bianca love-in capped a long bus ride from Ottawa to Mississauga and Markham (for a candidate’s rally) for the Liberal leader, with coffee shop drop-ins in Cobourg, Ont., on Lake Ontario east of Toronto, where hundreds of people lined up in the rain to catch a glimpse of Trudeau.

• From her zen calm to her love of dogs: Everything you need to know about Bianca Andreescu
• Scott Stinson: Bianca Andreescu makes history with remarkable U.S. Open win
• Brand Bianca: Canadian tennis star has shot at big off-court success after U.S. Open win

Trudeau visited two local coffee shops in Cobourg with local candidate Kim Rudd. Rudd won the seat for Liberals in 2015 by fewer than 2,000 votes — one of several tight races in the 905 region.

Trudeau and Rudd were greeted warmly by most residents they encountered at the two coffee shops he visited.

All of his campaign stops Sunday were in southern-Ontario districts the Liberals have to win if they’re going to be re-elected.

On Monday the Liberal campaign will remain in southwestern Ontario.

National Post with files from The Canadian Press

cblatchford@postmedia.com