Leylah Fernandez has reached the quarterfinals at the French Open for the first time in her career, while fellow Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime fell just short in his match with clay-court legend Rafael Nadal.
Fernandez, a runner-up at the 2021 U.S. Open, beat American Amanda Anisimova 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 on the main court at Roland Garros on Sunday.
The 19-year-old Montreal native had more than twice as many winners, 35, as unforced errors, 17, and continued her run of impressive returning at the tournament. She broke Anisimova six times and now has won 23 of her opponents' service games through four matches.
The 21-year-old Auger-Aliassime, also of Montreal, dropped a tough five-set match (3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3) to Nadal, who will meet the No. 1-ranked Djokovic in the men's quarterfinals.
Sunday's thriller was only the third five-setter Nadal ever has played at Roland Garros, where he has won 13 of his record 21 Grand Slam titles.
Fernandez, a runner-up at the 2021 U.S. Open, had never won more than two consecutive main-draw matches on clay until this trip to Paris.
-- This article by The Associated Press was first published on May 29, 2022
