This year’s US Open had a particularly exciting opening day on Monday May 22, with the top seed Caroline Wozniacki struggling to repeat her 2017 success. However, the excitement was short-lived, as teenagers Leylah Fernandez of the USA and Elina Svitolina of the Ukraine battled it out in the quarterfinals.
We have made it to the semi-finals at Wimbledon. The last time a teenager got this far at the main singles draw of a Grand Slam was in 2006, when Andy Murray lost to Fernando Gonzalez in the fourth round. In the past decade prior to that, the last teenager to make the semi-finals was Richard Gasquet in 2005.
The US Open has been full of drama so far, with Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, and Marin Cilic all reaching the semi-finals. So far, 19-year-old Leylah Fernandez has impressed the tennis world with her incredible attitude and composure, defeating former world number one Elina Svitolina 6-2 6-4.
In New York, Fernandez has defeated Naomi Osaka, Angelique Kerber, and now Elina Svitolina.
In New York, Fernandez has defeated Naomi Osaka, Angelique Kerber, and now Elina Svitolina.| Flushing Meadows, Queens, New York Dates: August 30th through September 12th |
| Daily audio commentary on the Radio 5 Live Sports Extra/ Sport website and app, as well as selected live written comments and match recaps on the website and app. |
Leylah Fernandez, a teenager, defeated Elina Svitolina and advanced to the US Open semi-finals, where she will face Aryna Sabalenka.
Fernandez, who turned 19 on Monday, won a tight tie-break in New York 6-3 3-6 7-6 (7-5) with all of her destructive power.
Svitolina, 26, had rallied from a 5-2 hole in the third, but she was no match for Fernandez’s exciting, forceful tennis.
Sabalenka defeated French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova 6-1 6-4.
In her journey to her first major semi-final, Fernandez has defeated reigning champion Naomi Osaka, 2016 winner Angelique Kerber, and now Olympic bronze medalist Svitolina.
In New York, she has shown amazing poise, backing up her effortless power with a serenity and control on the court.
As Svitolina delivered a long return of service on match point, Fernandez dropped to her knees and teared up as the crowd on Arthur Ashe gave her a standing ovation.
“I’m not sure what I’m feeling at the moment. Throughout the contest, I was very anxious “she said
“It was an honor to compete against Svitolina. I just persuaded myself that I should go for every point. I’m happy I took the chance.”
‘Fernandez isn’t a one-hit wonder.’
Fernandez won her first WTA championship earlier this year in Monterrey.
Fernandez became the first woman under the age of 19 to reach the semi-finals of the US Open singles since Maria Sharapova in 2005.
The youngsters have achieved a breakthrough in this year’s US Open, with Emma Raducanu and Carlos Alvaraz, both 18 years old, joining Fernandez in the fourth round.
Fernandez has showed them that no matter who you’re up against, you can go the extra mile. She did it by believing in herself and her big-hitting weaponry, winning 42 games versus Svitolina.
Naomi Broady, a British tennis player, told Radio 5 Live Sport: “This isn’t a one-hit wonder. Match every match, Fernandez has shown himself.”
Her father, who is also her coach, is a former professional football player. Fernandez claims she thought she could defeat him in backyard football games as a kid, and her self-assurance has backed up her performances in New York.
She attributed her tactical assistance to her father, who is at home with her little sister. Her raucous support group is headed by Duglas Cordero, her fitness instructor, who continuously encouraged them to create more noise.
“My father has taught me a lot of things, but today he just urged me to have fun,” she said.
“He told me to battle for every point, not to make the quarter-finals my last match, and to fight for my goal,” she added.
In her match against Svitolina, Fernandez got off to a great start, breaking for a 4-2 lead and blasting wins past her increasingly hesitant opponent.
Svitolina, an Olympic bronze medalist in Tokyo, took a while to adapt her style, but in the third set, she combined defense and offense well to eventually break Fernandez’s serve.
But Fernandez continued striking and winning the lengthy rallies, breaking back when Svitolina served for the set at 5-1 and generating four break chances in Svitolina’s following service game.
Svitolina’s frustration was evident in her shout as an ace out wide ended the second set, but she made the first dent in the third set.
Fernandez was able to get herself out of danger once again by meticulously selecting her strokes and outmanoeuvring Svitolina at the net. The Canadian served for the set after three breaks of service, but she looked nervous for the first time, giving Svitolina an opportunity.
The tie-break, on the other hand, seemed like a one-way street. Fernandez jumped off to a 4-1 lead, and the points she lost were mostly due to her own mistakes, rather than a last push from Svitolina.
Svitolina battled valiantly but was unable to stop Fernandez’s momentum, and the two exchanged an embrace and a short word before leaving the court.
Svitolina is regarded as a potential Grand Slam winner, although she has only advanced to the semi-finals of two major tournaments this year, the French Open and Flushing Meadows.
Sabalenka flies by Krejcikova.
In July, Sabalenka made her first Grand Slam semi-final at Wimbledon.
Sabalenka, the highest seed left in the women’s draw, will now play Fernandez, who has dominated her draw.
The Belarusian has been a regular performer on the WTA Tour, but she had struggled in Grand Slams until breaking through last month at Wimbledon, when she reached the quarterfinals.
The match against Krejcikova, who won her first Grand Slam singles championship at Roland Garros earlier this year, had a lot of potential, but the Czech was hindered by an injury or exhaustion.
Sabalenka hardly had to shift out of first gear in the first set, overcoming Krejcikova’s five double faults with 12 wins.
Despite a late rally by Krejcikova, Sabalenka was able to service her way out of difficulty in the second set, saving five of the six break chances she faced to win the match in one hour and 28 minutes.
Teenager Leylah Fernandez beat Elina Svitolina, the world number one, to reach the US Open semi-finals for the first time in her career. The Spaniard dropped the first set before coming back to win 6-4 6-4. During the victory she broke Svitolina three times to take control of the match. The victory was Fernandez’s 18th victory over the world number one.. Read more about us open alcaraz and let us know what you think.
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