Monday, Sep 6, 2021. 6:29 PM
NEW YORK – As Canada’s Leylah Fernandez’s dream singles run continues, the doubles’ one came to an end on Monday.
The 19-year-old and her teammate Erin Routliffe lost in three sets of 6-1, 4-6, 6-2 to Romanians Elena-Gabriela Ruse and Monica Niculescu in the third round of the US Open.
Fernandez and Routliffe had not lost a set since the doubles tournament began, but they found their way against the Romanians, who easily dominated the first set.
After being broken in their first two serve games in the second set, Fernandez and Routliffe showed plenty of character to break their opponents three times to force a final set.
Niculescu and Ruse were effective in the third set and they finally triumphed on their first match point.
Gabriela Dabrowski, along with her teammate Luisa Stefani, is the only Canadian still in contention for the doubles title.
Fifth-seeded Dabrowski and Stefani came from behind to defeat Ukrainians Dayana Yastremska and Marta Kostyuk 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-2 to advance to the quarter-finals.
Fernandez will continue her singles journey on Tuesday, when she crosses swords with Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina in the tournament’s quarter-finals.
Later on Monday, Canadian Bianca Andreescu will look to join her compatriot in the quarterfinals when she will face Greece’s Maria Sakkari.
