SHE COULD BE THE ONE
Fernandez more than upset winner over Kerber, she may turn into tennis’ new hope
Women’s tennis is wide open and in desperate need of a fresh primary face. And while it’s too early for anything close to a coronation, Leylah Fernandez carries the potential for that role.
Two days after she steamrolled Naomi Osaka, the 18-year-old pulled off a thrilling comeback victory over three-time Slam champion Angelique Kerber, 4-6, 7-6, 6-2, flashing style, energy and grit with her powerful ground strokes.
Fernandez, a Canadian, outlasted an opponent 13 years her elder, dominating the second half of their two-hour, 15-minute match with the Flushing crowd at her side. Fernandez next faces fifth-seeded Elina Svitolina in her first major quarterfinal, and few would be surprised if her run comes to an end against the 2019 Open semifinalist.
But already Fernandez eliminated this draw’s two most decorated slam champions and former No. 1s: Osaka and Kerber.
“From a very young age, I knew I was able to beat anyone in front of me,” said Fernandez after upsetting Osaka. “I guess today that belief came true.”
Fernandez has a unique background as a Canadian with an Ecuadorian father and Filipino mother. She plays to the crowd. She smiles. She enjoys the experience. Her slight build gives the impression of an underdog, but Fernandez packs a punch.
Most impressively against Kerber, Fernandez maintained her composure after blowing the first set on double faults. She gave up an early break in the second set, but, in the end, had Kerber exhausted and befuddled. It was an entertaining performance defined by Fernandez’s risky shots and winners.
“I gave everything I had today,” Kerber said. “She played I think unbelievable match, especially in the third set, also in the second.
“I think she played also one of her best matches in her career, and she had nothing to lose. She went out there, she played her tennis. She really is going for her winners, and I think at the end it was just two, three points which decided the match. She took it in her hands.”
So why is everybody this excited and eager about Fernandez’s potential? Because an heir apparent is necessary yet still undiscovered. Serena Williams’ dominant run is over and she didn’t enter this tournament. She’s unlikely to win another major. Osaka is contemplating a leave of absence to deal with her mental health issues, and her future as a tennis player, let alone a champion, is in doubt. Coco Gauff was eliminated early in Flushing and is awaiting her breakthrough.
The rest of the field doesn’t move the needle. Shelby Rogers brings appeal as an American who shocked the No. 1-ranked Ashleigh Barty on Saturday, but she’s 28 years old and never advanced past the quarterfinals of a major.
Fernandez already owns a WTA title – which she captured this year at Monterrey – and will be the youngest quarterfinalist at this Open. “She has a great future,” Kerber said. “She has a lot of power in her forehand and she’s going for her winners. I think she’s always also enjoying her tennis out there.”