Leylah Fernandez’s storybook run at the 2021 US Open continued on Thursday night in Arthur Ashe Stadium, where the 19-year-old Canadian scored yet another high-profile upset, advancing to the first Grand Slam final of her young career with a 7-6, 4-6, 6-4 win over No. 2 seed Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus.
The unseeded Leylah Fernandez, ranked No. 73, has now taken down three Top 5 players en route to the title tilt, having also dispatched defending champion Naomi Osaka and fifth-ranked Elina Svitolina.
Aryna Sabalenka, 23, was appearing in her second consecutive Grand Slam semifinal, having also reached the final four this summer at Wimbledon.
Teen sensation Leylah Fernandez showed off her power.
The Belarusian from Minsk had broken serve 22 times through five matches coming into Day 11.
The Canadian from Montreal only made it to Round 2 at last year's US Open, which was her first.
Aryna Sabalenka has had 10 career singles titles.
Aryna Sabalenka and Leylah Fernandez met at the net before their semifinals match.
The 6-foot tall Aryna Sabalenka stepped onto the hardcourt on Thursday night.
The 5-foot-6 powerhouse arrived on the main stage at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
Such focus! Leylah Fernandez, who is a lefty, went for a backhand.
Aryna Sabalenka reached for a shot.
"I fought for every point. Aryna fought for the same thing," Leylah Fernandez said after the match. "I don’t know how I got that last point, but I’m glad I did.”
“That’s years and years and years of hard work, and tears and blood, everything, on-court, off-court sacrifices,” Leylah Fernandez said of advancing to her first Grand Slam final.
"I just wanted to be in the final," Leylah Fernandez, who just turned 19 on September 6, said. "I really wanted it."
