NEW YORK -- There are no US Open players left, so the fans adopted Leylah Fernandez from Canada, a Canadian teenager who has an exciting game and an infectious enthusiasm.
Fernandez, 19 years old, reached her first Grand Slam semifinal. She became the youngest woman to reach that level at Flushing Meadows since Maria Sharapovova in 2005. Fernandez won 6-3, 3-3, 7-6 (5) against No. 5 Elina Svitolina, Tuesday's winner over No. 6, followed earlier victories against Angelique Kerber and Naomi Osaka.
Fernandez, a left-hander who has quick baseline reflexes and ranks 73rd, said that she doesn't know what she feels right now. She is participating in the seventh major tournament of Fernandez's young career. "I was so nervous. "I was trying to do the things my coach had told me."
Her father is the coach, but he is not in New York. He stayed at home and offers tips via phone calls daily. It is a great help. So does the cheering from the crowd, who booed every time Fernandez lifted her fist above her head after she won a crucial point at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
After edging Svitolina (the Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist), she said to the crowd, "Thanks to your help, I was able push through today." She also thanked Svitolina for her two Grand Slam semifinal runs, which included the 2019 US Open.
Fernandez was not required to be encouraged to get up from his chair. Fernandez's personal trainer would shout and jump, while pointing fingers or waving fists. Two-time major semifinalist Gael Montfils, Svitolina’s husband, provided similar support in Ashe's other guest room.
It was a close match down the stretch, even though Fernandez won the first set and led 5-2 in third. Fernandez held a clear advantage in one way: She won 26 points, Svitolina 16.
Fernandez was only two points away from winning five times but she failed to win the next point. At 5-all in tiebreaker, Fernandez moved to match point. She smacked a down the-line passing shot, which was able to pass Svitolina using a bounce off of the net tape.
Fernandez raised both hands as if to apologize for the lack of luck, while Svitolina lowered her hand and shook her head in dismay.
Svitolina's backhand was a problem late. Fernandez fell to her knees at the baseline and covered her face. Fernandez fell to her knees at baseline and covered her face. Svitolina then walked around the net, attempting to hug Fernandez.
Fernandez's magical journey will continue with yet another challenge against a player who is higher in the rankings and has had more success on the sport’s most prestigious stages. She will face either No. 2 Aryna Sabalkina, who reached the Wimbledon semifinals last July, or No. 8 Barbora Krejcikova was the winner of the French Open in June, and was the only woman to reach the semifinals at Wimbledon.
