Crossover: Hockey Goat Gretzky and NBA legend Steve Nash Heap High Praise on Canada's Andreescu

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Crossover: Hockey Goat Gretzky and NBA legend Steve Nash Heap High Praise on Canada's Andreescu

A couple of global sporting legends joined Vasek Pospisil on Episode No.7 of Tennis United, as NHL superhero Wayne Gretzky and eight-time NBA all-star Steve Nash joined the program to talk about their love for tennis and their feelings on Canada’s rising stars.

Nash, an exceptionally observant tennis fan, and Gretzky, a proud tennis parent and fixture at big events these days, both had keen insights on various topics, such as tennis rivalries and the Big Three.

And both were quick to praise 2019 US Open champion Bianca Andreescu for her remarkable talents and ability to deliver Canada its first Grand Slam singles champion.

“I got to see her in her very first match at Indian Wells,” said Gretzky. “I remember watching the match thinking ‘My gosh, that’s one of the hardest working athletes I’ve ever seen in my life.’”

Gretzky says he was blown away by Andreescu's ability to defeat Serena Williams in New York for the title in 2019, where she became the first player to ever win the singles tournament on her main draw debut and the youngest champion in New York since 2004.

“To play in front of all those fans and everyone cheering for their American girl and one of the great athletes of all time, it was pretty special,” Gretzky added. “My hat goes off to her, how she handled herself and how she handled the pressure.”

“She also has that intangible, that you’re playing Serena Williams, the greatest of all-time, in the US Open final,” said Nash. “She wins the first set, she’s on fire, and to be able to feel that momentum swing so far the other way—where you were totally on top, now not only are you looking eye to eye with Serena, but you’ve lost all momentum, to the greatest of all-time. And for her to take a deep breath, go for winners, and not stop playing and still have that personality—that’s special.”

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