Heading into day 4 of the French Open, all eyes have been on whether or not or not there could be an All-Canadian third-round assembly between the nation’s high two ladies’s singles gamers.
Leylah Annie Fernandez did her half, cruising by means of her second-round match, however Bianca Andreescu was unable to upset 14th seed Belinda Bencic, who will as a substitute tackle Fernandez for a spot within the final 16.
Beginning off the day, Fernandez confronted doubles veteran and No. 56-ranked Katerina Siniakova. Siniakova has made it to the third spherical of the Roland Garros event the final 4 years and in 2019 beat then world No. 1 Naomi Osaka. Nevertheless, this yr Fernandez put a cease to this streak.
This draw captured a number of consideration from viewers with the hopes of seeing an all-Canadian match-up between Bianca Andreescu and Fernandez within the third spherical.
Fernandez, ranked No. 18, is coming off an excellent efficiency in opposition to No. 107 Kristina Mladenovic. The 2021 US Open finalist gained her first-round match in straight units, 6-0 7-5. She was capable of land 80 per cent of her serves, utilizing them as her largest weapon, coming into the event. This match was no completely different, Fernandez as soon as once more dominated her opponent with the forehand, successful in straight units 6-3 6-2.
Each Fernandez and Siniakova haven’t met as opponents earlier than in a event, nonetheless the pair have performed as doubles companions on the Mutua Madrid Open, making this match one to observe. The 2 as doubles companions made it to the second spherical, shedding to Slovakia’s Tereza Mihalikova and Norway’s Ulrikke Eikeri.
Within the first set, Fernandez wanted a little bit of time to ease into the match. The 2 have been backwards and forwards firstly of the opening set. Nevertheless, Fernandez was capable of land 62 per cent of her serves, with just one double fault, and saving 5 out of the six break factors she confronted, in addition to changing two out of three factors she had on her opponents serve.
Fernandez was capable of choose it up a gear popping out robust within the second set, wanting unstoppable. She was capable of amplify her protection successful the primary two video games with none factors given to her opponent. In the course of the second set Fernandez delivered one ace, landed 77 per cent of her first serves, and gained 65 per cent of these factors.
That is the second time in Fernandez’s profession that she advances to the third spherical of the French Open.
Andreescu comeback falls quick
There can be no All-Canadian conflict on the 2022 French Open, nonetheless, as Bianca Andreescu was crushed within the second spherical on Wednesday by 14th seed Belinda Bencic.
Had Andreescu gained, she would have met Fernandez within the third spherical.
Sluggish begins in each units have been pricey for the 2019 US Open champion, who needed to play from behind all day and unable to claw her means again, falling 6-2, 6-4.
Bencic was ruthless on return, successful 46 % of Andreescu’s complete service factors, together with 48 % of second serve returns, and transformed 4 of six break factors. She additionally gained the rally battle with 17 winners to the Canadian’s 12.
Andreescu acquired off to a nightmare begin, double faulting on break level in her opening sport to instantly put herself in a gap. She had an opportunity to interrupt again within the sixth sport when she held double break level, however the Canadian dedicated back-to-back unforced error to let Bencic escape.
The miss proved pricey, because the Swiss added a second break on her strategy to taking the opening set.
Issues didn’t enhance for Andreescu within the second, when she was as soon as once more break within the opening sport. Bencic then managed to win 4 straight factors from 40-15 within the third sport to again it a double break.
Together with her again in opposition to the wall, the Canadian threw every thing she had on the 14th seed and managed to reclaim one of many breaks when Bencic served for the match at 5-2. Andreescu then had an opportunity to degree the set when Bencic double-faulted to arrange a break level the second time she served for the match, however the Swiss saved it with a giant serve.
Regardless of saving two matches factors with some super ball-striking, Andreescu was unable to avoid wasting the third as she despatched a shot lengthy to finish the match.
Reaching the second spherical in Paris matches Andreescu greatest consequence at Roland-Garros. It’s the first time she has performed two matches in the primary draw of the French Open.
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