Maria and Nicu Andreescu came to Canada in 1995 with one bag and a frying pan.
Little did the couple know that after leaving Romania, their Canadian daughter Bianca Andreescu would be the biggest sports hero in the country. It happened in less than 25 years.
“I’m sure they never really expected this to happen, especially so quickly,” the tennis star told Global News on Wednesday.
“They’ve dedicated a lot for me to be where I am.”
Bianca said she credits her parents for her success and that her mom is who she wants to be when she grows up.
Maria, a courtside viral sensation, is a chief compliance officer at a Toronto-area financial company.
“What they have accomplished, they have amazing careers. They’re just motivated,” Bianca said.
WATCH: Bianca Andreescu says ‘there’s always room for improvement’
The apple clearly doesn’t fall far from the tree. At 19, Bianca is a household name, not only because she is the first Canadian to win a Grand Slam singles title but also due to her drive and grace under pressure.
In a press conference Wednesday, Bianca quoted former No. 1 world tennis player Billie Jean King, saying: “Pressure is a privilege” and credited King for what she’s done for women in the sport.
“There is always room for improvement, obviously, but I think right now, women’s tennis has skyrocketed. Hopefully, I can be part of that journey and continue Billie’s legacy,” she said.
READ MORE: Bianca Andreescu’s coach wants tennis all-star to stay focused
Bianca said her phone has been inundated with messages since her historic U.S. Open title win on Saturday, but there is one athlete whose name she saw in her Instagram inbox that left her starstruck.
It wasn’t Drake.
“LeBron James reached out to me. That surprised me a lot. That’s crazy!” Bianca said.
Her Canadian media tour coincides with the kickoff to the Canadian election — the first in which she is eligible to cast a ballot.
“I would definitely love to vote,” she said. “Go vote, every vote counts.”
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