'Can't believe it': 18-year-old stuns US Open in 'ridiculous' scenes
Leylah Fernandez has stunned the tennis world at the US Open, taking down Angelique Kerber to reach her first grand slam quarter-final.
The 18-year-old Canadian produced an enormous upset to beat two-time champion Naomi Osaka in the third round, and backed it up on Sunday to send Kerber packing.
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Fernandez set up a mouth-watering quarter-final showdown with Elina Svitolina with a 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-2 triumph.
The 73rd-ranked Fernandez came back from a set and a break down to eliminate the 2016 US Open champion on Louis Armstrong Stadium.
Fernandez is a left-hander who redirects opponent’s shots swiftly and seemingly with ease.
That’s a very similar style to the one Kerber has used to reach No.1 in the rankings and claim three grand slam titles.
And just like in her win against Osaka on Friday night, Fernandez dropped the opening set and trailed in the second before turning things around.
The remarkable victory sent the tennis world into meltdown.
Incredible.
Leylah Fernandez backs up her win against Naomi Osaka and comes back from 4-6, 2-4 down to beat another former #1 and former champ (2016) Angelique Kerber 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-2 and reach the QFs at the #USOpen against Elina Svitolina! pic.twitter.com/Alf6vBQ3iv— José Morgado (@josemorgado) September 5, 2021
.@leylahfernandez hell yes!!!
— Milos Raonic (@milosraonic) September 5, 2021
New York is where stars are born.
Leylah Fernandez is into the quarters at a Grand Slam at the age of 18. pic.twitter.com/TyYBjJGWxw— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 5, 2021
Two #USOpen champions faced. Two #USOpen champions defeated.
Leylah Annie Fernandez comes back from a set & 2-4 down to beat Angelique Kerber 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-2.
I can't quite believe what I witnessed but she ELECTRIFIED Armstrong. What a player.— The Tennis Podcast (@TennisPodcast) September 5, 2021
Leylah Fernandez is so fun to watch play tennis. She's so unbelievably talented I can't believe she's only 18 years old.
— sl🌻📖 CT-7567🇵🇸 (@stephlaplantee) September 5, 2021
LEYLAH FERNANDEZ DOES IT AGAIN! 🇨🇦 (and on the day before her 19th birthday 🎉)
A second straight upset at the U.S. Open, this time over Angelique Kerber, to reach the quarter-finals! pic.twitter.com/gRhDNLcSDL— Tim and Friends (@timandfriends) September 5, 2021
Raducanu is good and has great variety but she will have to go some to match Fernandez. That was quite ridiculous. In every way.
Kerber#USOpen— GeoffGarside#FBPE (@garside_geoff) September 5, 2021
Fernandez to meet Elina Svitolina in US Open quarter-finals
Earlier, Svitolina ousted two-time grand slam champion Simona Halep in straight sets to advance to the quarter-finals.
The World No.5 from Ukraine emerged triumphant 6-3 6-3 in 76 minutes in the fourth round clash against the 12th seed of Romania to keep her quest for a maiden grand slam title alive.
The Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist is considered a major contender at Flushing Meadows after her promising tournament start in which she has not dropped a set to date.
The fifth seed had lost twice before to former World No.1 Halep in majors but there was no stopping the 26-year-old on Sunday.
Svitolina recovered from a break down to take the first set against the world No.13.
Halep hit back from one break down in the second but Svitolina broke the Romanian's resistance by converting a third break point to win a pivotal seventh game.
Svitolina produced three aces and won more than 80 per cent of her first-serve points in the second set.
"It was a great match, I was excited going into it because I know what a big fighter Simona is," Svitolina said.
"I knew I would have to play my best and I'm extremely happy with the win."
Defeat added to Halep's frustrating run at the US Open.
It marked only the second time she had featured in the second week at Flushing Meadows following her sole semi-final appearance back in 2015.
with agencies
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