Rising tennis star Fernandez, who had just turned 19 the day before, is now the youngest player to advance to the Grand Slam semifinal after defeating former US Open champions Naomi Osaka and Angelique Kerber and now top player Elina Svitolina.
Filipino-Canadian tennis sensation Leylah Fernandez continued her winning streak at the US Open after scoring a victory against No. 5 Elina Svitolina on Tuesday (September 7).
The rising tennis star, who had just turned 19 the day before, is now the youngest player to advance to the Grand Slam semifinal after defeating former US Open champions Naomi Osaka and Angelique Kerber.
"I obviously have no idea what I'm feeling right now," said Fernandez, a left-hander with quick baseline reflexes who is ranked 73rd and participating in only the seventh major tournament of her nascent career.
"Thanks to you, I was able to push through today," she told the crowd after edging Svitolina, the Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist whose two Grand Slam semifinal runs include the 2019 US Open.
Not requiring any encouragement to get out of his seat was Fernandez's fitness coach, who would leap and shout, pointing fingers or waving clenched fists.
Svitolina's husband, two-time major semifinalist Gael Monfils, offered similar support from Ashe's other guest box.
It was touch-and-go down the stretch - even after Fernandez grabbed the opening set, and even after she led 5-2 in the third. One way in which she held a clear advantage: Of points that lasted more than eight shots, Fernandez won 26, Svitolina 16.
Five times, Fernandez was two points from winning but failed to collect the next point.
Finally, at 5-all in the tiebreaker, she moved to match point when she smacked a down-the-line passing shot that got past Svitolina with the help of a bounce off the net tape.
Fernandez put up both palms, as if to say, "Sorry about that bit of luck," while Svitolina put a hand to her mouth in dismay.
Svitolina's backhand contributed to her undoing late, and when a return from that side landed long, it was over. Fernandez dropped to her knees at the baseline and covered her face; Svitolina walked around the net to approach Fernandez for a hug.
Fernandez is soon to face a bigger challenge in Aryna Sabalenka.
Sabalenka, the No. 2 seed, matched her best result in a Grand Slam tournament by reaching the semifinals via a 6-1, 6-4 victory over French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova, who was seeded No. 8.
(With report from ESPN)
Tags: #tennis, #USOpen, #LeylahFernandez