US OPEN: LEYLAH FERNANDEZ BEATS ANGELIQUE KERBER TO SECURE QUARTER FINAL PLACE

Canadian teenage tennis star Leylah Annie Fernandez continued her impressive show at the US Open with a qualification to the quarter after her victory over 2016 champion Angelique Kerber of Germany 4-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-2 at the Lious Armstrong Stadium.

The 19 year-old her who stunned four time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka before defeating three time winner Kerber was behind in the second set and had to battle back from a 4-2 down to force a tie-break, she regained her confidence to subsequently set up a battle for the semi-final against Ellina Svitolina.

Fernandez, who showed composure in her run to the last eight, obviously was fearless against Kerber, the Canadian served for a 5-2 lead but former US Open champion Kerber responded with some brilliance for Fernandez to secure just two more points in the rest of the set.

Annie, having realised that her opponent was back to save a set point forcing a tie break, she raced her energy to a 5-1 super run, with the Germany now under pressure, the crowd support continued to increase more for the teenager tennis star who was accorded eventual stand ovation. The delightful Canadian now set up a battle against Svitolina who defeated Simona Halep 6-3, 6-3.

The 19 year old born to a soccer player, Jorge was happy after the match, obviously looking forward to more challenges,  “ I expect that one day my tennis game is going to come through and that I’m going to be on the big stage in front of a big crowd and getting the wins” Fernandez said.

Fernandez, moving with his father from Montreal to Florida, developed to a tennis player at a young age, before starting her professional career in tennis. She won the 2019 French Open girls singles title.