Oh Canada: Leylah Fernandez races past Rebecca Marino in compatriot clash to begin US Open

Leylah Fernandez lost early last week in Monterrey as she bidded to get wins under her belt ahead of the US Open but she was in fine fettle to begin her Flushing Meadows campaign.

Fernandez joined the champion she lost to in the final back in 2021 in Emma Raducanu in easing through to the second round after taking down Rebecca Marino in pretty simple fashion on Sunday night.

The Canadian ace came into the WTA 1000 double header in Toronto and Cincinnati in fine form having won DC but that soon turned into a bit of a nightmare as she lost early to Maya Joint and Jessica Bouzas Maneiro. Both have had good years but was a bit of a two steps forward, three steps back kind of move.

Confounded by her winning one game in Monterrey before being dumped out by Rebecca Sramkova in the second round 2-6, 6-3, 6-2. In reality due to the fracas that surrounded the tournament and the final which saw weather play a factor as Marie Bouzkova even retired within the semi-final.

Diana Shnaider went on to scoop the title but in the end with the issues that surrounded the late finish, Fernandez perhaps would've been relieved to get out early in Mexico considering the lack of proximity too to New York. She raced out the blocks against the Canadian veteran winning 6-2, 6-1.

She had one ace and three double faults but she managed to convert on all five of her break point opportunities. Marino in comparison only sealed one out of her five chances to hit the front and that proved to be the difference as Fernandez also hit straight back. The 34-year-old had to come through matches last week to win through to face Fernandez having gone through three qualifying rounds.

But that didn't prove to be a problem for Fernandez in regards to Marino having played on the hallowed turf already as she raced through and now faces the winner of Marie Bouzkova v Elsa Jacquemot. She has struggled a bit since winning DC but is now back on track. Also through is McCartney Kessler who saw off Polish dangerwoman Magda Linette 7-5, 7-5. Rising Czech star Tereza Valentova saw off Lucia Bronzetti 6-3, 3-6, 6-4.

While Marketa Vondrousova came through her opener 6-3, 7-6 against qualifier Oksana Selekhmetova. Veronika Kudermetova is in trouble with Janice Tjen 3-1 up in their final set. A tie with Emma Raducanu awaits that winner. While Olga Danilovic and Clara Tauson are both a set down and fighting to stay involved.

Aryna Sabalenka has just entered Centre Court as she begins her title defence. She faces Rebeka Masarova in her opener this evening.