Photo: Martin Sidorjak
Canadians may be eliminated from singles contention at the U.S. Open. Still, their success continues in doubles as both Gabriela Dabrowski and Leylah Annie Fernandez have advanced to the quarter-final stage.
In women’s doubles, Dabrowski and her partner, Giuliana Olmos of Mexico, defeated American Asia Muhammad and Ena Shibahara of Japan 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(8) in a tightly contested match that needed a third set tiebreak to decide it.
The fifth-seeded pair will now face the accomplished Czech pair of Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova for a place in the semifinals.
This will be Dabrowski’s fifth appearance in a U.S. Open doubles quarter-final and she has reached the semifinals once before.
The 30-year-old Canadian could not secure a second victory on Sunday in Flushing Meadows after falling in mixed doubles with Aussie Max Purcell to her compatriot Fernandez and American Jack Sock 6-4, 7-6(4). Fernandez and Sock, who are teaming up for the first time, will meet the fourth-seeded Aussie duo of Storm Sanders and John Peers in the quarter-finals.
Canadian Juniors Victorious on Day One
A pair of Canadians advanced to the second round of the U.S. Open junior event on Sunday. Ninth-seeded Victoria Mboko opened with a 6-4, 6-2 triumph over Kaitlin Quevedo. So far this summer, the 16-year-old Mboko has reached the doubles final at junior Wimbledon and won her first ITF pro singles title in Winnipeg. Mia Kupres joined her compatriot in round two thanks to a 7-5, 6-3 victory over no. 15 seed Ksenia Zaytseva. Meanwhile, Annabelle Xu was unable to make it three Canadian wins as she fell 6-3, 6-0 to Alexandra Eala.
Kayla Cross and Jaden Weekes will begin their singles title bid on Monday.
