Leylah Fernandez pounces on insipid return performance from Elena Rybakina at Cincinnati Open
WTAThursday, 15 August 2024 at 19:38
Leylah Fernandez is into the Last 16 of the 2024 Cincinnati Open with Elena Rybakina's return to action gleaming a second round exit in three sets 3-6, 7-6, 6-4 in favour of the Canadian.
Fernandez will now face Ashlyn Krueger or Diana Shnaider for a spot in the Quarter-Finals in an open section of the draw likely with the in-form Russian as the favourite. But for Rybakina, it was a languid and insipid display at times.
This was confounded by her hitting 17 double faults in all in the match despite 20 aces. It was a break fest early on in the tie with Rybakina coming out with the hold to confirm her break to go 3-2 up. She kept the lead and broke again from 40-30 down on the Fernandez serve before serving out the set and it was very much job done for Rybakina in the early going.
Read also
But the second set ebbed and flowed with both having chances to claim it. But it was Rybakina who had match points and spurned them which led to her demise. Fernandez went 3-1 and 5-3 up on the Kazakh but lost her serve after missing set points at 5-4 up. The dial flipped the way of Rybakina but she missed two match points from 40-15 up and in the tie-break she was heavily beaten by Fernandez.
The final set was all Fernandez who came back from missing three break points at 2-2 to break to go 4-3 up and then sealed it from there at 5-4. A big chance now awaits while Rybakina goes back to the drawing board with only one warm-up under her belt ahead of the US Open.
Elsewhere, Elina Svitolina eased past Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 6-4, 6-1. As Elina Avanesyan who was a lucky loser this week and defeated Bianca Andreescu added Jelena Ostapenko to that resume. She won through in three sets 2-6, 6-2, 6-2.
Samuel GillEditor-in-Chief
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has a broad background in tennis media. In his current role, he works closely with editors and writers to ensure coverage meets clear journalistic standards, with particular attention to verification, consistency, and timely updates when new information becomes available.
claps 0visitors 0
Just In
Popular News
Latest Comments
- Wow! Parry had to endure the biggest attitudes (currently active) in the WTA: Vekic, Tauson and Parks.
mandoist02-09-2026 - ‘Fils arrived just eight days after winning his maiden Masters 1000 title in Cincinnati, where he beat Carlos Alcaraz in the final, and entered the US Open as one of the players expected to make a deep run.’ Fils defeated Tiafoe in the final not Carlos Alcaraz.DaveyWavey01-09-2026
- Great article!!
AceOfBase31-08-2026 - Snorting hard drugs is not an "accident" nor a "mistake". That is a Choice.mandoist28-08-2026
- No... athletes retire and that's it. No 'giftng' Wildcards -- QUALIFY LIKE EVERYONE ELSE NOT RANKED HIGH ENOUGH or stay home and cherish yourselves in the mirrors all over your houses!. This shitshow needs to be stopped... the "Look At Me" nonsense has gone on far too long.mandoist28-08-2026
- Great article! I began cheering for the “real” doubles specialists at the beginning but once they all lost their respective matches I really didn’t care who actually won the whole tournament. I liked the last four teams in the semifinals and would have enjoyed seeing any of them win the trophy! Not sure it really feels like a TRUE Grand Slam win however (and I know history will say it is!). Happy for Muchova/Mensik. Karolina is now a Grand Slam winner.DaveyWavey27-08-2026
- …and Foseca ;)DaveyWavey25-08-2026
- All the men dropping like flies. Something’s gotta be done with the tournament calendar or many more players will be on the sidelines in the near future. Surprised Carlos is back as soon as he is. Get well soon Sinner, Draper, Fokina, Rune, etc. etc. etc……DaveyWavey25-08-2026
- I want Pegula to surprise as a one-slam wonder winning in New York. She would then jump over the other three ladies for a number one ranking! I’d put my money on the two American girlies, Jessica and Coco to win in New York. Rybakina cannot seem to perform under this kind of pressure and Sabalenka appears in an anger fog ATM.DaveyWavey24-08-2026
- Well said, Andy. I got sick of Nick carrying on and on and on about Sinner. He absolutely refused to look at the facts. Now look at him. Karma is real!!!Rapunzel23-08-2026
Loading
