Teenager Leylah Fernandez after stunning Naomi Osaka at US Open: ‘I knew I was able to win’

Leylah Fernandez made it a night to remember for the 18-year-olds at the US Open as she dumped out defending champion Naomi Osaka.
Arriving on Arthur Ashe Stadium after Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz had just seen off men’s third seed Stefanos Tsitsipas, the teenager followed suit by producing a stunning upset.
Osaka’s game is clearly not back to its best following her recent absence due to mental health, but she served for the match in the second set, only to suffer a 15-minute capitulation that saw Fernandez fight back to win 5-7, 7-6 (7-2), 6-4.
Leylah Fernandez finished off her win with style. 😎 pic.twitter.com/Cxt2VqJBjw
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 4, 2021
It was the biggest win of the world No 73’s career and one that sets up a fourth-round meeting with 2016 champion Angelique Kerber.
The Japanese was playing her first Grand Slam since pulling out of the French Open and Wimbledon and this defeat will again put the spotlight on her.
She looked in decent fettle for the majority of the match, stealing the first set with a break at 5-5 and then putting herself in position to do the same in the second.
But this time Fernandez broke straight back at 5-6 and that is where the match turned on its head as Osaka lost her way over a defining 15-minute period.
The Canadian raised her level, but Osaka’s radar was off and splurge of unforced errors saw her lose the second-set tiebreak.
That carried over into the early part of the deciding set as Fernandez immediately broke, with Osaka smashing her racket and later receiving a code violation for hitting the ball into the crowd.
Carlos & Leylah 😯
What a day to be 18 & on Arthur Ashe Stadium. #USOpen pic.twitter.com/hcMQnIedfx
— ATP Tour (@atptour) September 4, 2021
The Japanese, the 2018 and 2020 champion at Flushing Meadows, regained her composure, but Fernandez was not fazed by the situation and saw out a famous win.
She said during her on-court interview: “I guess I wanted to stay on court a little bit longer and I wanted to put a show on for everyone here, an hour was just not enough for me on court.
“From the beginning right before the match I knew I was able to win.
“I wasn’t focusing on Naomi I was only focusing on myself and what I needed to do.”
Latest
-
ATP Tour
Daniil Medvedev overcomes ‘tricky’ opener while ‘relaxed’ Carlos Alcaraz ‘grows with the pressure’
Solid wins for Daniil Medvedev and Carlos Alcaraz.
-
ATP Tour
WATCH: ‘Worn out’ Nick Kyrgios and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina conjure up epic rally
Nick Kyrgios and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina produce some magic in Cincy.
-
WTA Tour
‘Calm’ Emma Raducanu sees off Serena Williams: ‘It was a true honour to share the court with her’
Emma Raducanu just too good for “legend” Serena Williams in Cincinnati.
-
WTA Tour
Naomi Osaka’s nightmare run continues: How big a setback is the Cincy defeat ahead of the US Open?
Naomi Osaka’s latest defeat a big blow ahead of the US Open.
-
Tennis News
Rafael Nadal explains how he deals with pressure after Carlos Alcaraz’s frank admission
Rafael Nadal says it is about “playing freely” and “just enjoying every match”.
-
WTA Tour
Emma Raducanu resumes trial with Dmitry Tursunov: ‘We need to see how we compliment each other’
Emma Raducanu and Dmitry Tursunov working together again in Cincinnati.
-
ATP Tour
Cincinnati schedule and streaming details: When are Daniil Medvedev, Carlos Alcaraz, Nick Kyrgios playing?
A couple of big guns open their Western & Southern Open accounts on Tuesday.
-
US Open
Daniil Medvedev ‘would love to see’ Novak Djokovic play at US Open to reignite his rivalry with Rafael Nadal
Daniil Medvedev wants to see Novak Djokovic play at the US Open.
-
Tennis News
Iga Swiatek hoping to catch Serena Williams’ eye and say ‘hi’, but admits she is ‘too shy’ to introduce herself
Will Iga Swiatek get to say “hi” to Serena Williams before the tennis icon retires?
-
WTA Tour
Serena Williams vs Emma Raducanu: What time is the big match and where to watch it…
A quick lowdown on the mouthwatering Serena Williams vs Emma Raducanu clash.