Fernandez Exits Aus Open After Doubles Defeat, Dabrowski Into QF

Summary:

• Leylah Fernandez exits the doubles after losing the third-round match in straight sets alongside Nadiia Kichenok. 
• Fernandez was also eliminated by Coco Gauff, 6-4, 6-2, in the third round on Friday.
• Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe reached the quarterfinals with a 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-4 victory.

Leylah Fernandez’s journey at the Australian Open came to an early halt on Sunday after the Canadian and her Ukrainian doubles partner suffered a decisive defeat in their third-round women’s doubles match.

Just two days prior, the 22-year-old born in Montreal also bid goodbye to the singles competition. 

On a brighter note, Ottawa’s Gabriela Dabrowski brought back hope for Canadian tennis fans with an impressive victory alongside doubles partner Erin Routliffe. 

6-3, 6-0 Loss in Under an Hour

American Taylor Townsend and Czech Katerina Siniakova claimed a swift 6-3, 6-0 victory against Fernandez and Kichenok, who struggled to deliver aces and failed to convert any of the three breakpoint opportunities. 

Townsend and Siniakova only needed 54 minutes to secure their spot in the next round, dominating the court with four aces, 20 points won on returns, 34 service points secured, and eight service games clinched. 

In contrast, Fernandez and Kichenok only won 14 service points and three service games. 

This loss marked a challenging week for Leylah Fernandez, who was also eliminated from the singles competition on Friday when she fell to American Coco Gauff in a 6-4, 6-2 defeat during their third-round clash.

After her 5-7, 6-2, 6-1 victory over Belinda Bencic that sent her into the quarterfinals, Gauff expressed sadness over TikTok’s ban in the U.S., writing “RIP TikTok USA” with a broken heart on a TV camera lens on Sunday.

Dabrowski and Routliffe Defeat Siegemund-Haddad Maia Pair

Dabrowski, partnering with Erin Routliffe of New Zealand, provided a brighter outcome for Canadian tennis fans. 

The duo triumphed in a hard-fought battle against Germany’s Laura Siegemund and Brazil’s Beatriz Haddad Maia. 

Their match stretched nearly two and a half hours before the 32-year-old from Ottawa and her 29-year-old partner from Auckland emerged victorious with a 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-4 scoreline.

Although they started off on a shaky note, the two managed to find their rhythm as the match progressed. 

Their performance was highlighted by three aces and an impressive 73% success rate on first serves. They also fended off six of the seven breakpoints they faced and won 43 points while receiving.

Looking ahead, Dabrowski and Routliffe are set to face Japan’s Miyu Kato and Mexico’s Renata Zarazua in the quarterfinals.