Bianca Andreescu has been awarded the Lou Marsh Trophy as Canada’s athlete of the year for 2019 

The honor was never in doubt. The 19-year-old from Mississauga, Ontario, was a unanimous choice from a panel of sports journalists.

Andreescu capped a historic season and vaulted onto the world stage by winning the U.S. Open in September. It was the first time in the country’s history that a male or female had won a Grand Slam singles tennis title.

A few weeks earlier, Andreescu became the first Canadian in 50 years to win Rogers Cup, beating the legend Serena Williams in the final when Williams had to retire with an injury. In the rematch in New York, Andreescu won in straight sets, 6-3, 7-5.

Andreescu was the first tennis player ever awarded the trophy, which has been won by the likes of Wayne Gretzky (four-time winner), Bobby Orr and other hockey legends, in addition to Olympic athletes like swimming sensation Penny Oleksiak. Last year’s winner was freestyle skier and Olympic champion Mikael Kingsbury.

Andreescu was among five finalists for the Lou Marsh Trophy, including golfer Brooke Henderson, St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington, sprinter Andre De Grasse and Atlanta Braves pitcher Mike Soroka.