Canada’s Leylah Fernandez has been eliminated from the U.S. Open following a defeat to third seed Jessica Pegula of the United States. The match saw a turnaround as Pegula claimed victory with a 1-6, 6-4, 6-3 scoreline in the third-round clash on Friday.
Fernandez, a 23-year-old hailing from Laval, Que., displayed a strong start at Arthur Ashe Stadium by securing an early break to lead 2-0 in the first set. Despite a notable lead at 5-1, Pegula fought back with a break to love, eventually taking the set.
Pegula managed crucial breakthroughs throughout the match, including a pivotal break to lead 4-2 in the second set. Fernandez responded by equalizing at 5-4, but Pegula’s prowess prevailed, securing the set.
In the final set, Pegula further solidified her lead with a third break, advancing to 3-1 before ultimately clinching the victory after two hours and ten minutes of play.
Fernandez, who was the U.S. Open runner-up in 2021, will now shift her focus to doubles competition with partner Janice Tjen. Their upcoming match against the ninth-seeded duo of Erin Routliffe and Aldila Sutjiadi is scheduled for the second round on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Carlos Alcaraz secured a convincing victory against China’s Yibing Wu with a 6-3, 6-4, 6-1 score. The second-seeded Spaniard continues his campaign at the U.S. Open, aiming to defend his title by facing Tommy Paul in the fourth round.
In a separate match, top seed Aryna Sabalenka faced a challenging encounter at the U.S. Open, overcoming opponent Kamilla Rakhimova with a 6-3, 6-4 victory. Sabalenka now prepares to meet Taylor Townsend in the Round of 16, maintaining her quest for a historic third consecutive U.S. Open title.
The Williams sisters, Serena and Venus, suffered a defeat in the women’s doubles at the U.S. Open. Despite a strong start, they succumbed in a match tiebreaker against Hao-Ching Chan and Maya Joint, marking a disappointing exit from the tournament.
Later on Friday, Ben Shelton, the recent National Bank Open champion, advanced to the fourth round in New York by defeating Denis Shapovalov in a four-set battle. Shelton’s victory was fueled by a supportive American crowd, setting up a showdown against Stefanos Tsitsipas in the upcoming round.