Leylah Annie Fernandez defeats No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka; 'magical' run heads to US Open final

Jackie Spiegel

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Leylah Annie Fernandez defeats No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka; 'magical' run heads to US Open final image

After her quarterfinal win over Elina Svitolina in the 2021 U.S. Open, Leylah Annie Fernandez was asked what they were feeding the Canadian players that had them playing such inspiring tennis. The just-turned 19-year-old responded, on cue: "I would say it's the maple syrup."

Yes, Leylah, there's definitely something special in the maple syrup.

While she wasn't seen chugging it during a changeover, like countryman Vasek Pospisil has been known to do, she definitely did play inspiring tennis Thursday night. Under the bright lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium and playing in a semifinal matchup with No. 2 seed Aryna Sabalenka, the determined Canadian won 7-6(3), 4-6, 6-4 to move on the final.

"I just wanted to be in the finals. I really wanted it and I fought for every point," Fernandez said during her on-court interview with ESPN's Pam Shriver.

The kid from Laval, Que., certainly did. 

Fernandez's night started a bit shaky. Sabalenka, four years her senior, took 3-0 and 4-1 leads in the opening set. Her firepower seemed to overtake the youngster. But as we have seen time and time again, Fernandez showed that she shouldn't be counted out as she clawed her way back. She had three aces in the sixth game (one on a second serve) and another serve that could not be returned. The comeback was on. She got it to 5-5 and 6-6 and then dominated the tiebreak. It marked her fifth tiebreak win without a loss in the tournament — one each in five of her six matches.

Sabalenka jumped out to another early break in the second set, but once again the Canadian came back. Fernandez took 3-2 and 4-3 leads, but the 2021 Wimbledon semifinalist held strong and took the middle frame, setting up a decisive third set.

You'd think a third set would make Fernandez nervous; think again. She knocked off defending U.S. Open champ Naomi Osaka in three sets in the third round. She sent 2016 U.S. Open champ Angelique Kerber packing in three sets in the quarterfinals. And now she was on the precipice doing the same to the WTA's wins leader in 2021.

Fernandez took a 2-1 lead and was up 0-30 in the fourth game, but Sabalenka came back and ended the game with an ace to tie the set. Neither player was giving an inch until Fernandez broke the Belarussian to go up 4-2.

But like Fernandez, you shouldn't count out Sabalenka. She went up 40-0 and held off a storming Fernandez to make it 4-3 before leveling the set 4-4 as she held serve. The Canadian then held serve in five points thanks to two winners and an ace to go up 5-4.

The pressure was back on Sabalenka — and she faltered. She had a backhand unforced error, double-faulted twice and then sent a shot long to send Fernandez into the final.

Two years ago, Bianca Andreescu was the star from the north in New York City when she captured the U.S. Open Trophy. Now it's Leylah Annie Fernandez's turn. She will face Emma Raducanu in the final on Saturday.

"Magical, that's a great word," she replied when ESPN's Chris McKendry said she used that word to describe her run to the championship match. "That's what I try to do on the court from a very young age, like bring magic on court with slices, with drop shots, with the angles, down the line, putting on a show for everyone, and I'm just glad I was able to do that."

She certainly put on a show for a New York crowd that included a family sporting Montreal Canadien jerseys. She put on a show for the guy in a Canada jersey circa Canada Cup. She put on a show for the woman who has been seen sporting a Canadian flag around her neck and the guy with a "We Are the North" hat. She put on a show for legend Billie Jean King and the Original 9 who greeted her afterward. And she certainly put on a show for Brooklyn Nets coach Steve Nash, who, like her fellow Canadian athletes on Twitter — including Félix Auger-Aliassime, who can join her in the final with a semifinal win Friday vs. Daniil Medvedev — was beaming with pride.

Jackie Spiegel