Monday Digest: Fernandez Finding Form Ahead of US Open

Leylah Annie Fernandez appears to be peaking on the excellent time with the US Open simply days away. 

The Canadian is coming off a really profitable run in Cincinnati and is constructing momentum forward of the 12 months’s remaining main, the place she had her best-ever run at a giant occasion three years in the past. 

Right here’s what you’ll want to know. 

In Case You Missed It: Double the Outcomes for Leylah 

What per week it was for Leylah Annie Fernandez on the Cincinnati Open. 

Her singles or doubles outcomes would have been spectacular on their very own, however reaching the quarter-finals and remaining in the identical event makes her stint in Cincinnati all of the extra spectacular. 

Partnering with Yulia Putintseva for the primary time in doubles, Fernandez adopted up her semifinal run in Toronto by reaching her second WTA 1000 doubles remaining, upsetting prime seeds Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, Fernandez’s former associate, within the quarter-finals after which defeating Linda Noskova and Diana Shnaider, who the Canadian additionally beat in singles, within the semis. 

The Canadian-Kazakhstani pair took the opening set of the ultimate earlier than the third-seeded pair of world No. 1 Erin Routliffe, who with Gabriela Dabrowski had overwhelmed Fernandez in Toronto the week earlier than, and Asia Muhammad rallied to sneak out the win in a match tiebreak. 

Fernandez additionally went on a run in singles, scoring spectacular comeback victories from a set and a break down towards Yue Yuan and world No. 4 Elena Rybakina, saving match factors to beat the latter.  

A 3rd-round win over Shnaider despatched her right into a second WTA 1000 singles quarter-final of 2024 the place she practically pulled her best escape but, pushing Toronto champion Jessica Pegula to a 3rd set tiebreak regardless of having trailed by a set and 4-0 within the second and 3-0 within the third, however she ran out of magic within the decider. 

Félix Auger-Aliassime additionally had a strong bounce-back efficiency in Cincinnati, reaching the third spherical with dominant wins over Aleksandar Kovacevic and world No. 8 Casper Ruud earlier than a tricky three-set loss to Jack Draper in spherical three which ended on a controversial missed name on match level.  

Bianca Andreescu additionally competed in Cincinnati, shedding in spherical one to Elina Avanesyan. 

What to Watch: Closing Prep Earlier than New York 

With the US Open getting underway on the weekend, Leylah Annie Fernandez is seeking to squeeze in a pair extra matches forward of the ultimate Grand Slam occasion of the 12 months.  

She is the second seed on the WTA 250 occasion in Cleveland this week. She opens her marketing campaign towards Ana Bogdan and is in the identical quarter as No. 5 seed Anastasia Potapova. Beatriz Haddad Maia is the highest seed. 

Carol Zhao got here by means of qualifying to get into the primary draw of the WTA 500 occasion in Monterrey this week. Will probably be her first foremost draw on the WTA Tour in 2024. She performs Petra Martic within the first spherical and will face No. 7 seed Yue Yuan in spherical two.  

It’s the first time Zhao has efficiently certified for a tour-level occasion because the WTA 1000 event in Guadalajara final September. 

Underneath the Radar:  

There have been a few Canadian winners on the ITF junior circuit final week. Jay Lin Gibson edged out prime seed Allan Gatoto to win the J60 boys singles occasion in Kigali, Rwanda, whereas Anissa Saada teamed up with Nina Marcela Chavez Vicente to win the lady’s doubles at a J30 in El Salvador. 

Canada performs host to the ITF Girls’s World Tour this week with a W35 occasion in Saskatoon. Half of the singles area is from the house nation, 

Click on right here to learn the total Saskatoon preview.

Nationwide championships month can also be ongoing. The Fischer U16 and U12 Out of doors Junior Nationals each bought underway final Friday and proceed by means of this week. 

Click on right here to achieve the total U16 and U12 preview.

Qualifying for the US Open has additionally begun in New York. 

Gabriel Diallo is the lone Canadian man competing. He’ll play Sho Shimabukuro within the first spherical, with No. 18 seed Terence Atmane and No. 8 seed Hugo Dellien doubtlessly standing between him and the primary draw. 

Rebecca Marino and Marina Stakusic are each competing on the ladies’s facet.  

Marino kicks off her bid towards Ysaline Bonaventure. She might play No. 21 seed Suzan Lames within the second spherical and No. 5 seed Rebeka Masarova within the third. Stakusic opens towards Celine Naef and is in the identical part as No. 26 seed Laura Pigossi and No. 16 seed Arina Rodionova. 

You’ll be able to comply with the Canadians in motion each week right here.