It was an unfortunate Friday for Canadians in Germany as Leylah Annie Fernandez and Denis Shapovalov were both eliminated in their respective quarter-final clashes.
Fernandez fought hard against top-seed Elena Rybakina at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart but was on the wrong end of a comeback in her quest for her first WTA clay semifinal.
The Canadian No. 2 played nearly four-and-a-half hours of tennis across her first two matches but still put Rybakina to the test in Friday’s three-hour battle. Fernandez was up a break in all three sets and even held two match points, before the Kazakhstani sealed her place into the semifinals with a 6-7(5), 6-4, 7-6(6) victory.
The more time on court seemed to benefit the Canadian. Fernandez confidently served out a pair of holds to begin the match then, at 1-2, three Rybakina double faults led to the Canuck’s early break. The 23-year-old backed it up with another confident hold, adding a second ace to her tally as she led 4-1.
The double-fault troubles continued for Rybakina in the ensuing game. The Kazakhstani committed her fourth at 30-all, giving Fernandez another chance to break, but the world No. 2 saved and eventually avoided the second-straight loss of serve.
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Looking to wrap up the opener in convincing fashion, Fernandez held three set points at 2-5, love-40, but Rybakina managed to keep the set alive.
That marked the beginning of the Kazakhstani’s turnaround. Rybakina broke with Fernandez serving for the opener, then won eight-straight service points en route to the tiebreaker. The Australian Open champion was perfect on her delivery until after the changeover, when a mini-break handed Fernandez the 4-3 advantage. The Canadian later had three more opportunity to clinch the set at 6-3 and, on the third attempt, she took the opener thanks to Rybakina’s 14th unforced error.
Both players brushed off some pressure to start the second, but Fernandez’s third break point of the set was the charm as she broke in the fifth game, coupled with a nervy hold to go 4-2 in front.
However, much like the first, Rybakina found her rhythm later in the set, powering together three-consecutive games to take a 5-4 lead. The Kazakhstani completed her late push, securing back-to-back breaks to bring the match to a decider.
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Once more, it was Fernandez who went up a break early in the set, needing three chances in the fifth game to finally force the loss of serve and go up 3-2. Following two fearless holds, the world No. 25 was one-game away from her first semifinal since Hong Kong in November.
Fernandez was again unable to close out the set – and the match – on her delivery, despite holding a match point, as Rybakina stayed alive. The world No. 2 then fought off a break opportunity in the ensuing game to put a bit of stress on Fernandez to serve to extend the contest. However, the Canuck held her nerve to force a decisive tiebreaker.
Fernandez failed to consolidate her mini-break on two occasions during the tiebreaker but still managed to hold a second match point at 5-6. Rybakina won both points on serve and needed just one chance to convert on a match point of her own, going on the attack right from her return at 6-7 to move through to the final four.
Shapovalov Ousted in Munich Quarters
Denis Shapovalov lost out in the BMW Open by Bitpanda quarter-finals, defeated by fellow lefty Alex Molcan 6-4, 6-4 on Friday.
The Canadian No. 3 struggled on his delivery throughout most of the match. The 27-year-old from Richmond Hill only got 52 per cent of his first serves in play and, on his second, he only won 41 per cent of those points while committing seven double faults. The Canuck did finish with more than double Molcan’s winners tally, but his 35 unforced errors were the difference, compared to the Slovak qualifier’s nine.
Shapovalov’s biggest challenge early on was his second delivery. The Richmond Hillian conceded just two points through his first pair of service games, both coming off double faults. The 27-year-old got himself out of some for the time being, saving three break points at 2-2, love-40; however, on Molcan’s fourth opportunity, the Slovak pounced on Shapovalov’s second serve for the break. Over that span, the Canadian was perfect on his first serve, but won only three of ten points on his second.
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At 3-5, 30-40, some fearless drop shots led Shapovalov to the crucial hold, forcing Molcan to serve for the opening set. The world No. 166 comfortably held to love and sealed the set.
To begin the second, Molcan extended his point streak to eight after breaking from love-40 in the opening game, consolidating the loss of serve with a hold for the 2-0 edge.
Shapovalov found his game in the sixth game, powering himself to his first break points of the day at 3-2, 15-40, where the pressure led to a Molcan double fault and loss of serve. Unfortunately for the Canadian, the response was short-lived as the Slovak immediately broke back and added a hold to lead 5-3.
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The Canuck managed to save break point in the ensuing game, but Molcan closed out the match on his delivery at 5-4, holding to love and booking his place into his first ATP semifinal since 2023.
Feature Photo: Martin Sidorjak
