PHOTO CREDIT : Leylah Fernndez file photo from her Facebook account
NEW YORK — Canadian tennis star Leylah Fernandez saw her 2025 U.S. Open singles campaign end on Friday, August 29, after a hard-fought third-round loss to current World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka. Fernandez bowed out in straight sets, 6–3, 7–6 (7–2), on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The 22-year-old left-hander entered the match as an underdog against Sabalenka, whose power game and serving consistency proved decisive. Fernandez managed to push the second set to a tiebreak, briefly rallying with deep baseline returns and trademark defensive grit. But Sabalenka steadied under pressure, clinching the victory in just under two hours to secure a place in the round of 16.
Fernandez, who memorably reached the U.S. Open final in 2021, exits this year’s singles draw after showing flashes of her counterpunching brilliance but struggling to consistently match the World No. 1’s heavy hitting. Sabalenka, the top-ranked player with more than 11,000 WTA ranking points, remains a strong favorite for the title as she seeks to defend her crown in New York.
Doubles campaign with Venus Williams
Despite her singles exit, Fernandez’s U.S. Open is far from over. Earlier in the week, she partnered with American legend Venus Williams to deliver one of the tournament’s most surprising results: a 7–6 (7–4), 6–3 upset over sixth-seeded Lyudmyla Kichenok of Ukraine and Ellen Perez of Australia in the opening round.
Their run continues on Saturday, August 30, at 3:00 p.m. ET, when they face the unseeded team of Ulrikke Eikeri (Norway) and Eri Hozumi (Japan) in the women’s doubles second round. A victory would propel Fernandez and Williams into the third round of a Grand Slam doubles event, a significant milestone for the partnership that has quickly become a fan favorite.
