Canada’s Leylah Fernandez was eliminated from the U.S. Open on Friday following a 1-6, 6-4, 6-3 third-round defeat to third-seeded American Jessica Pegula at Arthur Ashe Stadium, according to TSN and CBC Sports reporting.
Match Flow and Break-Point Statistics
According to Sportsnet, Fernandez capitalized on a strong start, securing a quick break to lead 2-0 in the opening set before breaking to love for a 5-1 advantage on her way to taking the frame in half an hour. Pegula shifted the momentum in the second set, claiming her first break to take a 4-2 lead, according to CBC Sports. Although Fernandez cut the deficit to 5-4, Pegula converted against the serve to seal the second set. Pegula earned three break points during the match and converted all of them, while Fernandez went 3-for-11 on break-point opportunities, as reported by Sportsnet. Pegula secured an early break in the third set to go up 3-1 and held serve to close out the match in two hours and 10 minutes, according to CBC Sports.
Tournament Context and Next Steps
Pegula advances to face Romania’s Sorana Cirstea, the No. 16 seed who defeated Italy’s Jasmine Paolini 6-3, 6-3 earlier on Friday, according to Sportsnet. Fernandez, who reached the U.S. Open singles final in 2021, is not finished in New York just yet. According to CBC Sports, the 23-year-old from Laval, Quebec, remains active in the doubles draw and is scheduled to partner with Indonesia’s Janice Tjen against ninth seeds Erin Routliffe of New Zealand and Aldila Sutjiadi of Indonesia in second-round action on Saturday.
