Fil-Canadian Leylah Fernandez stuns Naomi Osaka in third round of US Open

Filipino-Canadian Leylah Annie Fernandez just pulled off a major upset in her budding career after dethroning Naomi Osaka in the third round of the US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City on Friday (Saturday in Manila).

Fernandez, who was born to an Ecuadorian father and a Filipino mother but is representing Canada, took 2 hours and four minutes to send Osaka packing, 5-7, 7-6, 6-4, to move to the fourth round where she will face Angelique Keber of Germany.

Fernandez, 18,  won over Ana Konjuh of Croatia in the first round, 7-6, 6-2, before pulling off a 7-5, 7-5 mastery over Kaia Kanepi of Estonia in the second round.

Fernandez is currently no. 73 in the WTA rankings but was able to climb as high as no. 66 in June 2021.

She has seen action in three other Grand Slam events this year and was able to reach the third round of French Open and first rounds of both the Australian Open and Wimbledon.

Fernandez also competed in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics but did not make it through the Round of 16.

Meanwhile, young Filipina netter Alex Eala is also set to compete in the US Open Juniors tournament where she entered as the second seed.

—JMB, GMA News