Serena Williams’s grand-slam woes continued on Saturday night as she was beaten in the US Open final for the second successive year. And once again her conqueror was a fearless young thruster from the next generation.

After Naomi Osaka outplayed Williams last year on Arthur Ashe Stadium, it was the turn of 19-year-old Bianca Andreescu on Saturday, who produced a near-flawless performance and lived up to Williams’s description of her as an “old soul”.

The main difference was that this remained a tennis match, rather than a psychological drama. Williams’s tennis might have faltered under the huge pressure she faced from an inspired Andreescu, but she never threatened to repeat last year’s run-in with chair umpire Carlos Ramos. There was no controversy – just one of the most phenomenal and complete displays from a newcomer that this sport has ever seen.

Remember that Andreescu has never played in the main draw of the US Open before. She did turn up for qualifying last year, as a promising 18-year-old ranked No 208 in the world, but she lost in the first round to an even younger opponent, Olga Danilovic. Not even her own parents would have picked her then to lift the 2019 trophy.

What a player this teenager is. She began this year with a runner-up spot in Auckland, where she beat Caroline Wozniacki and Venus Williams in her first meetings with tennis royalty. Eight months on, she has played another seven matches against top-10 opposition and won the lot, leaving her at 8-0 at the start of her young career. It is surely an unprecedented statistic.

Williams and Andreescu embrace at the end of the match credit: AFP

We know, from the evidence of three previous finals in the last 14 months, that Williams feels the stress and expectation to an extent that she never used to before her maternity leave. Those other matches delivered thumping defeats to Angelique Kerber (Wimbledon 2018), Osaka (here last year) and Simona Halep (Wimbledon this summer), with Williams failing to win more than four games in any single set.

That final curse continued on Saturday, despite the encouragement of the Duchess of Sussex, who sat next to coach Patrick Mouratoglou in Williams’s player box.

Her footwork was slow and heavy from the outset. And even though Williams opened with an ace, she was still broken in the opening game, handing it over with a double-fault.

Would she rouse herself? There were promising signs when Andreescu brought her into the net with a rare drop shot, and Williams then earned herself an overhead which she smashed away with such fury that it almost threatened to cause Andreescu an injury. The crowd erupted in what must have been the loudest roar of the tournament, and the energy seemed to knock Williams out of her lethargy.

Now we had a match. Williams was still making errors but interspersing them with crunching winners. Andreescu was shaping the ball beautifully with her heavy topspin and giving no free points away.

Serving at 2-4 down, Williams managed to stave off five break points with some huge serving and bloody-minded defiance, and we thought it might be a turning point. But no. Andreescu has the mental steel that you might expect from a much older woman. She struck an ace of her own on the very next point and finished the set off in style.

Williams speaks to the crowd after her losing her fourth straight major final credit: USA TODAY Sports

The second set had a similar pattern. Things were looking bleak for Williams, as she wailed to her box that “I can’t get my serve in”. She even miscalculated one backhand so badly that she swung twice at the ball – missing the first time and only catching it on the second time around. In just a few minutes, she was 5-1 down.

But again, Andreescu partially roused the sleeping giant with an ill-advised drop shot, losing the ensuing rally and drawing another huge chorus of cheers from the crowd. Facing Championship point down at 40-30 in that 5-1 game, Williams dodged that bullet with a scorching return winner into the corner, then produced her most confident ball-striking of the match to score two breaks and level up at 5-5.

Andreescu lost her timing for a while, understandably. She had been playing a ghost of an opponent for 20 minutes or so, and now she was up against a roaring lion. It must have been deeply disconcerting. But somehow she rebooted. As Williams served at 5-6, she produced two clean winners on the return – the second one a forehand up the near line that scudded past Williams and finished the match.

A tearful Williams was unusually raw and open in the interview room afterwards. “I honestly don’t think Serena showed up,” she said. “I have to figure out how to get her to show up in grand-slam finals.” She also described her first-serve percentage of 44 per cent as “inexcusable”.

“I love Bianca,” Williams added. “I think she's a great girl. But I think this was the worst match I've played all tournament. It's hard to know that you could do better.

“It truly is super frustrating,” Williams added. “I'm, like, so close, so close, so close, yet so far away. I don't know what to say. I guess I got to keep going if I want to be a professional tennis player. I just got to just keep fighting through it.”

When Andreescu arrived in the same room, she too broke down in tears, and had to place her hands over face as she explained that “I've been dreaming of this moment for the longest time. After I won the Orange Bowl [a leading junior tournament held in Miami], I really believed that I could be at this stage. Since then, honestly I've been visualising it almost every single day. For it to become a reality is just so crazy. I guess these visualisations really, really work.”

One of the quirky details we heard about Andreescu was that, four years ago, she watched Flavia Pennetta win the US Open and wrote herself out a cheque for $3.3 million – the same sum that Pennetta earned for that triumph. Now she has picked up the real thing – except that the prize money has now climbed even further to $3.85 million. Andreescu also became the first Canadian - male or female - to win a major singles title.

Earlier, Jamie Murray had become the first man for almost 60 years to win three straight US Open mixed-doubles titles, as he and Bethanie Mattek-Sands scored a dominant 6-2, 6-3 victory over Michael Venus and Hao-Ching “Angel” Chan in just under an hour.

Mixed doubles is tennis’s poor relation in terms of prize-money, but the $80,000 cheque due to each of the winners should still more than cover the costs of a fortnight in New York. “We played amazing the whole two weeks,” said Murray. “I sleep easy when we are playing on a big court because I know Beth loves it, she gets fired up. She says I am the ying to her yang.”

11:24PM Bianca speaks

It's so hard to explain in words but I'm just beyond grateful and truly blessed, I've worked really hard for this moment. It's been a dream come true and now being able to play on this stage against Serena, a true legend of the sport, is amazing. Oh man it wasn't easy at all [recovering from losing 5-1 lead]. I tried to prepare my best for the match and not focus too much on who I was playing. That's easy to say but I'm really pleased with how I dealt with everything. Definitely the crowd [was the toughest thing today]. I know you guys wanted Serena to win so I'm so sorry, and obviously it was expected for Serena to fight back. She's done that so many times, it's why she's a true champion. I just tried my best to block that out and the last game wasn't easy. She started serving way better, balls were going all over the place. I'm just pleased with how I managed it. Last year wasn't an easy period in my life. I was going through a lot with injuries, but I persevered. I had an amazing pre-season with my team - I thank you guys so much for sticking by me every step of the way. I have to dedicate this win to you. I kept believing, kept working hard, and just kept that momentum. I can't thank them [my parents] enough for everything they've done for me. It's been a really long journey. It hasn't been easy, so I have to say thank you and let's keep going.

credit: Getty Images

11:17PM Serena speaks

Thank you so much. It means a lot to me. You guys have been amazing for the two weeks since I've been here, thank you so much. I was just fighting at that point [down 5-1], trying to stay out there a bit longer. Honestly the fans started cheering so hard, made me fight a little bit more. I was really grateful for that. Bianca played an amazing match, congratulations. So proud and happy for you. It was incredible tennis, I wish I could have played better. If anyone could have won it - outside of Venus - I'm happy it was Bianca. I just feel really honoured and so proud to be out here and competing at this level. It's not easy. Thank you to my god Jehovah. The team has been so good to me with all the ups and downs, and downs, and downs and downs and downs, and hopefully we'll have some ups again soon.

11:11PM The trophy ceremony begins

Hopefully we'll be in for a less awkward affair than last year...

11:08PM A star is born

She's 19! NINETEEN! How on earth did Andreescu recover from losing that 5-1 lead?! Early days of course but surely this is the first of many majors.

11:07PM Match stats

Serena's second serve points won a lowly 30 per cent.

credit: Amazon prime

11:04PM The moment of victory

credit: Getty Images

11:02PM Andreescu clambers up to her box

Hugs and high-fives around. A warm embarce from Serena at the net as well.

Wow, what a gripping final.

11:00PM Game, set and match! Andreescu defeats Williams 6-3, 7-5

Williams is long with a forehand to fall down 0-15, but she rips a forehand winner crosscourt for 15-15. Andreescu responds with a brutal forehand return winner to move up 15-30, again within two points of victory. Make that within one point, as 23 minutes after her first championship point, Andreescu has a couple more at 15-40. Williams saves the first with an ace out wide, but Andreescu nails a forehand return winner on the second! It flies past Williams, and she's done it!

Bianca Andreescu is the 2019 US Open champion!

10:54PM Williams* 3-6, 5-6 Andreescu (*next server)

Oh boy how Andreescu needed that. An ace brings up 40-15, and she eventually clings on to her serve to 30.

Williams will serve to stay in the match for a third time.

credit: Getty Images

10:51PM Williams 3-6, 5-5 Andreescu* (*next server)

Ace, double fault, ace to start the game has Williams up 30-15. Another double fault then makes it 30-30 - Andreescu is two points from the title. But she misses consecutive backhand returns off second serves, and we're level at 5-5! This is unbelievable. Four games in a row for Williams.

10:47PM Williams* 3-6, 4-5 Andreescu (*next server) - Williams breaks back

What on earth must be going through Andreescu's mind right now? The crowd is going absolutely bonkers, desperate to try and help Serena rescue this.

And Andreescu is feeling the heat! She misses two backhands - the second an absolute sitter - to fall down 0-30. Williams then nails an unorthodox backhand drive volley to earn three break points at 0-40! And she only needs one, as Andreescu sends a backhand wide.

The stadium absolutely erupts. We're back on serve! Andreescu covers her face at the change of ends.

10:42PM Williams 3-6, 3-5 Andreescu* (*next server)

Ooh, this is getting tense. Williams cranks up the pressure to hold easily to 15, and Andreescu will try and serve it out for a second time.

10:40PM Williams* 3-6, 2-5 Andreescu (*next server) - Williams saves a championship point and breaks

An Andreescu error gives Williams a glimmer but a forehand winner and a missed Serena return move the Canadian to 30-15, two points from the title. Heroics from Williams to chase down a drop shot and then get something onto a lob then somehow keep her in the next point to level things at 30-30. But an Andreescu service winner brings up 40-30 and championship point. Andreescu gets her first serve in, only for Williams to rip a forehand return for a clean winner up the line. And a brutal backhand crosscourt then earns Serena a break point! She can't take it though - fluffing a drop shot to have us back at deuce. Her mother Oracene averts her gaze in disbelief, but Serena rattles off the next two points to dig out the break! On we go.

10:32PM Williams 3-6, 1-5 Andreescu* (*next server) - Andreescu breaks

Oh boy, this is getting ugly. Williams double faults to fall down 15-40 and offer up two break points. She saves the first but sprays a forehand wide on the second.

The 19 year old Andreescu will serve for the match. Holy moly.

10:28PM Williams* 3-6, 1-4 Andreescu (*next server)

Williams appears frazzled by what's going on. She blares a forehand return well long and then completely misses a backhand to help her opponent to a hold to 15. Oh my, that was the sort of thing you'll see in your local park tomorrow.

Williams looks completely distraught. Is there any way back?

10:25PM Williams 3-6, 1-3 Andreescu* (*next server) - Andreescu breaks

Andreescu 's forehand is absolutely monstrous - the best in the women's game according to Brad Gilbert - and she uses it to devastating effect to move up 15-30. Williams responds well though, and slams down a 119mph ace to move up 40-30. But yet another double fault has us at deuce. Williams then fluffs a forehand and she faces a break point for the fourth straight service game. Williams at least avoids handing over another break with a double fault, but Andreescu takes it after some more brutal forehand hitting.

Andreescu up a set and a break again.

credit: Getty Images

10:19PM Williams* 3-6, 1-2 Andreescu (*next server) -Williams breaks back

The double fault bug looks to be contagious - Andreescu chucking one in to fall down break point at 30-40. Williams has a good look at this one, but thwacks a makeable return into the net. A drive volley opens up a second break point, but again Williams can only send a backhand skidding into the net. She brings up a third break point with a forehand winner, but misses this one two after erroneously challenging an Andreescu forehand that clipped the line. Finally she breaks for the first time in the match when a dead net cord completely nails her opponent. That was cruel, but Williams will not care a jot. Andreescu shakes her head at the change of ends; Williams looks pained despite her good fortune.

10:11PM Williams 3-6, 0-2 Andreescu* (*next server) - Andreescu breaks

Big moments coming up here, as Williams falls down 0-30 after being rushed into a couple of errors. Andreescu smells blood. Another forced error presents Andreescu with three break points at 0-40. And would you believe it, for the third time in the match Williams double faultsto concede a break!

Andreescu is utterly dominant, and leads by a set and a break.

10:08PM Williams* 3-6, 0-1 Andreescu (*next server)

Williams has a sniff of a break at 30-30, but Andreescu again slams the door shut. A smash and a kicker second serve get the job done to make it three games in a row. She screams "come on, let's go!" in celebration.

10:02PM Williams 3-6 Andreescu* (*next server) - Game and first set Andreescu

Andreescu is fighting fire with fire here, screaming "come on!" after every big point she wins. She simply refuses to be intimidated by her illustrious opponent. Williams has a game point at 40-30, but Andreescu flicks away a volley for deuce to take herself to within two points of the set. Make that one, as another forehand winner brings up set point! Can she take this break point after missing five in the previous game? Yes, she can! Williams doubles faults and Andreescu takes the first set after 42 minutes!

What a first set from Andreescu - 12 winners, six unforced errors and 84 per cent of first serves in. ​

credit: Getty Images

09:57PM Williams* 3-5 Andreescu (*next server) - Andreescu saves a break point and holds

The previous game had the feel of a momentum changer, and sure enough Williams has a break point at 30-40 after hustling her opponent into a couple of errors. Andreescu saves it though with a skidding ace out wide. Wow, what nerve she's showing tonight. And a big serve and a forehand winner then seal a crucial hold. That was seriously clutch tennis from the 19 year old, and Williams will serve to stay in the first set.

09:52PM Williams 3-4 Andreescu* (*next server) - Williams saves five break points and holds

The pace with which both players are striking the ball is frightening, but at the moment it's Andreescu with the greater weight of shot. Williams can't cope, and she's late on a backhand to present Andreescu with a break point for the double break at 30-40. This would feel like the set if she can take it. An ace ensures Andreescu can't, but a Williams backhand error gives her a second chance. Andreescu can't take this one either, sending a nervy looking backhand into the net. A third chance then comes and goes, with Williams saving this one with a brilliant wrong-footing forehand winner. A fourth is also missed - an ace down the T doing the damage. This game feels absolutely enormous. Surely Serena can't keep fending off her young opponent? Another Andreescu forehand winner brings up a fifth break point, but again Williams saves it. A brilliant backhand is too hot for Andreescu to handle. Finally Williams edges an epic game, whipping a forehand winner right into the corner to end a 10-minute marathon.

Williams was screaming throughout that game, and had to give absolutely everything to cling on. A possible turning point?

credit: AFP

09:41PM Williams* 2-4 Andreescu (*next server)

Wow, absolutely savage inside-in forehand winner from Andreescu to move up 30-0. She's ripping the ball here but with enough margin to have made just one unforced error so far. Williams responds with a monster backhand winner up the line, and after a double fault we're level at 30-30. Is Andreescu about to feel the pressure of the occasion? Not a bit of it. An ace and service winner steer her to another hold.

09:36PM Williams 2-3 Andreescu* (*next server)

A second ace and a thudding body serve help Williams to a hold to 15. She's getting 67 per cent of her first serves in, which is encouraging. Andreescu still up that early break.

credit: Getty Images

09:34PM Williams* 1-3 Andreescu (*next server)

Williams is really going after her shots here, playing with so much aggression on every point and stepping in to her returns. Her radar is a little off though, and Andreescu holds comfortably to 15.

Thus far Williams has hit eight winners and made nine unforced errors. Andreescu's numbers by contrast are two and 0.

09:30PM Williams 1-2 Andreescu* (*next server)

Andreescu appears to have angered Williams here with her first start. After chasing down a drop shot, Williams nails a smash straight at her opponent on her way to an authoritative hold to 15. She screams in celebration as she heads to the chair.

credit: Getty Images

09:27PM Williams* 0-2 Andreescu (*next server)

High quality game here, as Andreescu cancels out two Williams baseline winners with one of her own and then an ace for 30-30. A service winner and then an unreturned serve cleverly aimed at the body secure the hold for Andreescu.

Not the start Williams was after.

09:24PM Williams 0-1 Andreescu* (*next server) - Andreescu breaks

An ace out wide from Serena gets the final under way. She then pulls a backhand wide for 15-15, and after a couple of strong serves for 40-15, Andreescu draws a pair of errors to force deuce. A pretty rash double fault follows, and it's break point Andreescu. Big chance right away here for the 19 year old. And she takes it when Williams double faults again!

Consecutive wild double faults from deuce hand Andreescu the instant break.

09:19PM Ready? Play

We're under way. Williams serving first.

09:15PM Fashion update

09:14PM Andreescu wins the coin toss

... and elects to receive. Slightly surprising decision, but guess she wants to get her eye in before serving.

It's a pleasant late afternoon in New York but not too hot, perfect conditions for tennis.

09:11PM One of many celebrity fans in the crowd to support Serena tonight

Meghan Markle, the Dutchess of Sussex credit: REX

09:10PM The players are out

Andreescu first, then Serena. Massive roar for Williams, who is wearing a black mac over her tennis gear.

09:06PM The pre-final ceremony has begun

Please be quick.

09:04PM Some historical context

This was how women's tennis looked when Serena won her first US Open 20 years ago.

The US Open draw in 1999 credit: Wikipedia

09:00PM Some British representation tonight

... and a bit of a misunderstanding from Boris.

08:47PM Venus is in the building

Serena's elder sister has arrived, and will be part of a partisan home crowd for Williams. You feel like Andreescu will relish being the villain of the piece, though.

08:29PM ICYMI from earlier

Jamie Murray has won a seventh grand-slam title, teaming up with Bethanie Mattek-Sands for a 6-2, 6-3 victory win over Michael Venus and Hao-Ching “Angel” Chan.

You can read the full report here.

credit: Getty Images

08:11PM Well it was 20 years ago today

(OK not exactly 20 years, but only a few days out)... anyway here's Serena winning her first US Open against Martina Hingis all the way back in 1999. Andreescu was not even born yet.

View more!

07:53PM Serena on for an unwanted quadruple

Williams is a big favourite for this match - 3/10 on compared to 5/2 for Andreescu - but she has lost all three of her most recent major finals, and all in straight sets.

The most recent one, against Simona Halep, lasted just 56 minutes.

Those finals in full are:

2019 Wimbledon final - lost to Halep 6-2, 6-2

2018 US Open final - lost to Osaka 6-2, 6-4

2018 Wimbledon - lost to Kerber 6-3, 6-3

Williams has never lost four in a row in her career (and had never lost three until this recent sequence).

07:38PM Generation game

On Saturday September 11 1999, a 17-year-old Serena Williams defeats Martina Hingis 6-3, 7-6 to claim her first grand-slam title.

Around nine months later - on June 16 2000 - Bianca Andreescu is born in Mississauga, Canada.

Nineteen years on from that, Williams and Andreescu will meet this evening in the final of the US Open - in a match that boasts the biggest age gap between two players in a major final.

It is one of many fascinating sub-plots from what has the potential to be a thriller. It's one of those matches where either way we have a brilliant story.

Should Williams win then she will move equal with Margaret Court's record of 24 grand-slam titles. Should Andreescu win, then the sport would have a new major winner - and someone who could go on to dominate women's tennis.

Admittedly that's been said about a number of emerging players over the last few years, but Andreescu looks every inch the real deal. She plays with a purpose and poise that belies her teenage years, and as she demonstrated in an interview with the Telegraph on the eve of the tournament, she is already utterly ruthless. "I want to be social, but at the same time, love means nothing in this sport," Andreescu said.

Last year's US Open final ended in acrimony credit: AFP

That said, Andreescu is clearly filled with respect for tonight's opponent. When Williams had to retire hurt from the Rogers Cup final last month, Andreescu was instantly over to her side asking if she was ok. In a sense though, such a move spoke of Andreescu's self-confidence; it would have been easy for her to recoil or feel awkward about having won the title at Williams's expense.

That aborted meeting in Canada is the only time these two have met, so there isn't a huge amount of data to go on. What we do know is that Andreescu has not lost a completed match since March 2, in what is an extraordinary run of 23 straight victories. During that time she has picked up two prestigious titles, in Indian Wells and then in Toronto at the Rogers Cup.

Williams by contrast has not won a tournament since her return from maternity leave 18 months ago, and has lost three major finals in that time. The second of those was the US Open final last year against Naomi Osaka, in what was arguably the most dramatic match in any sport throughout 2018.

Could we be in for something similar this evening? We'll find out from around 9pm BST (4pm local) when the players are due on court.