Canada’s Leylah Fernandez has been eliminated from the U.S. Open following a defeat to third seed Jessica Pegula of the United States in the third round on Friday. Fernandez, a 23-year-old hailing from Laval, Quebec, started strong at Arthur Ashe Stadium by taking a 2-0 lead in the first set and securing a 5-1 advantage before clinching the set. Pegula managed a crucial break to lead 4-2 in the second set, but Fernandez fought back to narrow the gap to 5-4 before Pegula sealed the set. Pegula’s third break in the third set put her ahead 3-1, and she maintained her lead to win the match after two hours and 10 minutes. Fernandez was the runner-up in the 2021 U.S. Open. Meanwhile, Denis Shapovalov of Richmond Hill, Ontario, was set to compete against eighth seed Ben Shelton of the U.S. in the men’s third round later on Friday. Fernandez is still participating in the doubles event and will partner with Indonesia’s Janice Tjen against the ninth-seeded duo of Erin Routliffe from New Zealand and Aldila Sutjiadi from Indonesia in the second round on Saturday.
In another match, Aryna Sabalenka faced challenges at the U.S. Open, both from her opponent and an unusual distraction of marijuana scent. Despite the obstacles, Sabalenka defeated Kamilla Rakhimova 6-3, 6-4 on Friday. The world’s No. 1 seed was tested in a lengthy second set lasting 54 minutes, longer than her previous match. Sabalenka praised Rakhimova’s performance, acknowledging the tough competition. Seeking a historic third consecutive U.S. Open title, Sabalenka will now meet Taylor Townsend in the Round of 16. Serena Williams, aiming to secure her first U.S. Open victory since 2014, will team up with her sister Venus for a doubles match against Hao-Ching Chan and Maya Joint. Sabalenka encountered a disruption during her match when she detected the smell of marijuana, prompting her to seek assistance from the chair umpire. Sabalenka expressed her concerns about the distracting odor affecting her focus during the intense competition.
