History nearly repeated itself for Leylah Annie Fernandez on Friday at the US Open. Five years after upsetting world No. 3 Naomi Osaka in the third round of the year's final major, the Lavalloise was a set away from once again taking out the third seed in the third round in New York.
But Jessica Pegula fought back, denying the Lavalloise of a major upset in three sets. It is the second year in a row that Fernandez exited the US Open in the third round. She has not reached the last sixteen since that 2021 finals run.
It was all Fernandez early on as the Canadian raced through the opening set. But Pegula was able to overcome the early sluggishness, finding her game as the match went along to claim a 1-6, 6-4, 6-3 win.
The American went big throughout the match and while she had trouble finding the mark early, her aggression paid off in the end. She finished the match with twice as many winners, 26 to Fernandez's 13, although she also had more unforced errors with 29 to her opponent's 25. The Canadian will be left regretting a mere three of 11 break-point chances converted, while Pegula was a perfect three-for-three.
Fernandez came out ready to go but her opponent seemingly didn't. Pegula could not find the court early on and gifted the Canadian a break in her opening service game with a slew of unforced errors. The American did not show signs of life until she was down 0-3, 0-30 on her own serve, fighting back for her first hold of the day.
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That was all Fernandez allowed her, though. The Canadian was keeping the ball deep, making things uncomfortable for Pegula and the world No. 3 was cracking constantly. Fernandez broke to love to go up 5-1 before holding to wrap up the opening set in just half an hour.
While Pegula cleaned up her game early in the second, Fernandez still had a chance to pull away with a break chance in the fifth game. However, she netted her forehand and then was broken for the first time in the following game as the American moved ahead 4-2.
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Still, Fernandez was not letting the world No. 3 get comfortable. Pegula had to battle to consolidate the break, saving four break points in the following game to go up 5-2. Serving for the set, though, she blinked. The Canadian had a couple of chances to get back on serve and, after going up 40-AD with a backhand winner up the line, Pegula netted a forehand to let Fernandez back in it.
However, the Lavalloise was unable to draw even. Serving to stay in the set at 4-5, she found herself down double set point at 15-40 and netted her backhand to send the match to a deciding set.
Once again, Fernandez had the first chance to break in the third set but was unable to convert, missing both returns at 15-40 in the third game. She immediately paid the price, missing back-to-back forehands to go down 15-40 on her own serve in the next game and then put a backhand wide to fall behind a break in the decider.
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That was enough for the world No. 3. Pegula did not face a break point the rest of the way, riding that lone break to victory.
Fernandez was the only Canadian woman in the singles draw. She is still competing in doubles with Janice Tjen.
Denis Shapovalov is the last Canadian standing in singles. He plays his third-round match against Ben Shelton later on Friday.
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Feature Photo: Martin Sidorjak
