Leylah Fernandez has crashed out of her quarter-final match against
Tatjana Maria at Tennis in the Land, the last
WTA tournament before the
US Open.
Former world No. 13 Fernandez defeated Linda Noskova and Clara Tauson on her way to the quarter-finals of the WTA 250 event in Cleveland. However, she met her match against Maria, who won against the Canadian wild card in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2.
Fernandez was held without an ace and committed two double faults in the match, which lasted one hour and 23 minutes.
However, the 20-year-old still won some difficult points, including emerging victorious from a long and difficult rally in the opening set.
Fernandez now preparing for US Open
Fernandez will now be getting ready to compete in the US Open, where she was a finalist in 2021. On the way to that final, she defeated the defending champion Naomi Osaka, as well as fifth seed Elina Svitolina and second seed Aryna Sabalenka. This marked only the third time in the Open Era that an unseeded player defeated three of the top five seeds at the New York slam.
Moreover, the final made history as the first all-teenage major final since the 1999 US Open, and the first in which both players were born in the 21st century. It was also the first Grand Slam final to feature a qualifier in Fernandez's opponent Emma Raducanu, who won the Slam in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3.
The following year, Fernandez had 1300 ranking points to defend as the previous year's runner-up. However, she crashed out in the second round against Liudmila Samsonova.
Nevertheless, many fans are hoping that this year, Fernadez will feel less pressure and thus be able to have a deep run at the last Grand Slam of the season.
Meanwhile, Maria will face Sara Sorribes Tormo in the semi-finals of Tennis in the Land.
