Leylah Annie Fernandez broke new floor for Canada on the Summer season Olympics on Monday, turning into the primary Canadian girl ever to achieve the final sixteen in singles on the tennis occasion by defeating Cristina Busca of Spain in straight units.
Bianca Andreescu won’t be becoming a member of her within the final sixteen, although, as she was eradicated by Wimbledon semifinalist Donna Vekic in straight units.
It was a tough battle for the Canadian No. 1, who had her palms full with the pesky Spaniard. However on the enterprise finish of each units, it was Fernandez holding her nerve to say a 7-6(4), 6-3 win.
Serve was something however sacred within the match, as each girls gained lower than half the factors on their very own serve and had been damaged at the very least 5 instances every. Fernandez was nonetheless the stronger on return, creating 14 break factors and changing seven.
The opening set was a sequence of momentum swings. It appeared like Busca was getting off to the stronger begin when she broke Fernandez within the opening sport, just for the Canadian to reply with 4 straight video games of her personal to get again on serve after which go up a break.
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Her lead was short-lived as Busca managed to claw again the break and degree the set at 4-4. Then a sloppy sport at 5-5 from Fernandez arrange the Spaniard to serve for the set, however once more the momentum flipped and the Canadian was capable of break to ship the set to a tiebreak.
Scorching off the vital break within the twelfth sport, Fernandez stored rolling into the breaker the place she shortly raced forward 4-0. Whereas Busca began to chop into the lead, she by no means managed to reel the Canadian again in as Fernandez held on to take the opening set.
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Within the second, it was Fernandez scoring the primary break, transferring forward 2-1. After Busca held within the opening sport, she was damaged by the Canadian 4 consecutive instances.
A powerful return sport was key for Fernandez as she nonetheless struggled to discover a rhythm on serve and was damaged again twice, together with when she served for the match at 5-2. However she had a clear learn on her opponent’s serve and was capable of break to guide her spot within the third spherical.
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So as to attain the quarter-finals, Fernandez should beat three-time main champion Angelique Kerber. If she reaches the final eight, she would be the first Canadian, male or feminine, to achieve the quarter-finals of the Olympics since 1908.
Extra Struggles for Andreescu
In spherical one, Bianca Andreescu confirmed encouraging indicators that she was discovering her highest gear as she cruised previous Clara Tauson. However on Monday, Donna Vekic of Croatia proved an excessive amount of of a problem for the previous US Open champion, eliminating the Canadian in straight units.
Just like the Fernandez match, there have been breaks of serve aplenty and openings existed for the Canadian, however she struggled to carry her serve all through the match and was overwhelmed 6-3, 6-4 by the Wimbledon semifinalist.
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General, 11 of the 19 video games within the match had been breaks, with the Croatian changing seven of her 13 break level possibilities, whereas Andreescu was 4 of 10. The Canadian didn’t do herself many favours, committing 29 unforced errors to her opponent’s 16.
Andreescu got here out of the blocks faster, breaking Vekic within the fourth sport. Nonetheless, she was unable to consolidate because the Croat broke again instantly.
The momentum fully flipped with that break because the Wimbledon semifinalist shortly seized management of the opening set. Having trailed 1-3, Vekic gained 5 video games in a row, breaking the Canadian 3 times together with within the ninth sport to seal the opening set.
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Issues went from dangerous to worse for Andreescu early within the second set as, within the second sport, she took a fall and appeared to injure her hand. She was capable of proceed after a medical timeout however was swiftly damaged to go down 0-2.
Regardless of the autumn, Andreescu remained aggressive within the second set, instantly breaking again. Nonetheless, each girls had been choosing aside the opposite’s serve. Of the ten video games within the second set, seven had been breaks, together with a run of 4 straight beginning with Vekic’s break within the second sport.
Andreescu had an opportunity to actually get again within the match when she broke for a 4-3 lead, however that was as shut as she would get. Vekic broke again instantly after which broke once more to seal the win.
