No Canadians will advance to the singles main draw at the U.S. Open as Bianca Andreescu and Liam Draxl were defeated in the final round of the qualifying tournament in New York. Andreescu lost to Tamara Zidansek of Slovenia in a hard-fought match, firing seven aces but struggling on net points. The match had started on Thursday but was interrupted due to rain with Andreescu leading 2-0 at that time. Draxl also faced a tough challenge against Australia’s Tristan Schoolkate, ultimately losing in a close match.
Despite both players scoring four breaks, Schoolkate managed to secure the last break to take the lead in the third set. Montreal’s Felix Auger-Aliassime, Denis Shapovalov of Richmond Hill, Ont., and Leylah Fernandez of Laval, Que., will represent Canada in the main draw of the tournament.
In other news, Aryna Sabalenka and Jessica Pegula commended the U.S. Open for increasing the prize money and forming a player advisory council. Sabalenka, a vocal advocate for better player compensation, expressed optimism that these developments would improve the relationship between players and tournament organizers. The increased prize purse and establishment of an advisory council come in response to demands from top players for a larger share of revenue and more involvement in decision-making processes within the sport.
Sabalenka highlighted the importance of unity among players, noting that recent progress demonstrates the impact of collective efforts. Pegula emphasized the significant strides made in enhancing player welfare and prize money, attributing these positive changes to the collaborative approach taken by players across both the men’s and women’s tours. The initiatives signify a shift towards empowering players and fostering a more cohesive structure within the sport.
