[ad_1]
Elsa / Getty Images
Leylah Fernandez has only one mountain to climb.
The 19-year-old Canadian defeated No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka, 7-6 (3), 4-6, 6-4, earning a berth in the US Open final and consolidating her run to the major tournament as one most unlikely in tournament history.
Launderer report @Launderer report
Leylah Fernandez qualifies for the #USOpen final đź‘Ź
(via < a href="https://twitter.com/TSN_Sports?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TSN_Sports)pic.twitter.com/ B6zeeBj9XB
United States Tennis Open @US Open
Leylah Fernandez’s dream run in New York took her to the final. pic.twitter.com/wUNjDEiXNg
“I have no idea [how I won that match]Fernandez said in his on-field interview after the win. “I would say it’s thanks to the New York crowd.”
Arthur Ashe Stadium fans have certainly been with him for quite a while. En route to the championship game, Fernandez beat No.3 Naomi Osaka, No.16 Angelique Kerber and No.5 Elina Svitolina.
She is now waiting for the winner of the semi-final between No.17 Maria Sakkari and Emma Raducanu.
In just two hours and 24 minutes, Fernandez overcame Sabalenka’s incredible powerful shots and figured out how to deflate one of the best players in the world. The window of opportunity for doing so was about as slim as the one the teenager faced during her run.
Sabalenka opened up a 4-1 lead in the first set, dumping shots that seemed to completely disrupt Fernandez’s timing. In fact, the first five games of the semi-final were enough for the Canadian to adapt to her opponent.
wta @WTA
🇧🇾 @SabalenkaA bringing the 🔥
United States Tennis Open @US Open
This is the second time in three years that a Canadian has competed in the singles final of the #USOpen pic.twitter.com/RF0ocPV2YJ
Fernandez came back with a bang to win the first set in a tiebreaker in which Sabalenka never found herself competitive.
This led to a middle frame where both players continued to trade fluctuations. Fernandez would go up 3-2 only for Sabalenka to tie things up. Fernandez took a 4-3 lead, Sabalenka responded with quick play to get things going again. Finally, Sabalenka won the 10th game by four consecutive points, establishing a decisive third set.
United States Tennis Open @US Open
in the US Open final << make the US Open final with @SteveNash in your box pic.twitter.com/LpN1Zc5CXe
It quickly became risky for the eventual winner.
Fernandez took the lead 4-2, but struggled to close the game. Sabalenka broke Fernandez’s serve to get one game closer to the lead, then held the serve to make it 4-4. Fernandez won Game 9, but would have to break Sabalenka’s serve to avoid another tiebreaker.
Like all the other tests, she passed it with aplomb.
“I just wanted to be in the final,” Fernandez said. “I really wanted to. I just fought for every point.
[ad_2]
Source link