BIANCA ANDREESCU– A CANADIAN TENNIS HERO
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I guess this entry in my blog is about myself and Bianca Andreescu who made my tennis dream come true. I started playing tennis in the early 1940s at Bickford Park in the Harbord and Grace Street area of Toronto, and to be honest my interest was in the pretty girls playing there more than the game. I was a pharmacist and relatively successful so I was able to buy a property in Hoggs Hollow where I met Izzie Sharp who introduced me to York Racquets Club where I began playing in 1966. I loved playing at York Racquets and eventually got involved with money support for Tennis Canada and the Ontario Tennis Association. I support a tournament called “THE UNDER 10 CHAMPIONSHIPS” and the winners of the boys and girls tournament get money from me for tennis lessons. A young winner of my tournament, Scarlett Nicolson played in Auray France in the under 12 championships and was a semi-finalist in the singles and won the doubles. But that is not why I am writing this blog.
I am a very competitive person and I used to watch all the Grand Slam Tournaments. I got sick and tired of the Canadian entries, when they got in, losing in the first round. I was once looking at the main draw in Toronto and two American players. were also looking . One said to the other, hey you got a bye, the other answered No, I am playing a Canadian , and the retort was Ah, thats like a bye. I felt like SHIT. I remember talking to Michael Downey, the head of Tennis Canada , I hope I live to see a Canadian win a Grand Slam. I was in my 70s at the time. Bianca made it happen. She won the American open, a Grand Slam. Son of a Bitch. I made it . I did live to see a Canadian win a Grand Slam and as of now she has won her last 17 matches, Canadian tennis has arrived with Felix, Denis, Milos and of course my beautiful Bianca and would you believe Downey phoned me congratulations!!!
Name of author
Name: Murray Rubin
Short Bio: I was born in Toronto in 1931 to a wonderful mother who divorced shortly before my birth. I owe a great deal of my success to her. I am Jewish but not at all religious, yet my culture plays an important part of my personality. I attended Harbord Collegiate and U. of T. Faculty of Pharmacy. A unique mail-order pharmacy was the first of my endeavours in the profession, followed by many stores throughout Ontario. I have a loving wife, 3 children and grand-children and I am now retired from pharmacy. But what do I write about? Everything! My topics are funny, serious, whimsical, timely, outrageous, inspiring, and inventive. I promise that if you take the time to read any one of these topics – you will not be sorry.
Thank you very much Murray for supporting Scarlett Nicholson. She is working smart to become one of your sponsored U10 Champions growing up to win a Grand Slam. This summer U14 Canadian National Championship singles win, in her first year U14, is the latest stepping stone towards that goal. Now quadruple National Champion, but it all started with winning your U10 Championship and receiving your generous prize money.
Vlad, you cannot imagine how proud I am of her accomplishments. I used to wonder if I will live long enough to see a Canadian win a Grand Slam and it happened. Bianca did it. I have changed my wishes. Now will I live long enough to see Scarlett win a Jr Grand Slam? We will see , but remember I am nearly 89 years old . I would love to see Scarlett hit with Paul Beck. Tell me when this will happen.
Murray
Seems like she has the world by the tail.
May she have a wonder full, long career.
Chag Somayach.
Thank you Mickey. As a tennis player I am sure you approve
She’s an amazing young woman. It goes well beyond her abilities on the court, I suspect.