Leylah Fernandez from Canada serves to Coco Gauff from the United States in their third-round match at the Australian Open in Melbourne, Australia, on Friday, January 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)
Canadian tennis star Leylah Fernandez’s Australian Open run came to an abrupt end in the third round of the women’s doubles event on Sunday. Fernandez, paired with Ukraine’s Nadiia Kichenok, faced a tough challenge against American Taylor Townsend and Katerina Siniakova of the Czech Republic. The match ended quickly with Townsend and Siniakova securing a dominant 6-3, 6-0 win in just 54 minutes.
From the start, it was clear that Fernandez and Kichenok were struggling to gain any momentum. Throughout the match, they found it difficult to break their opponents’ serves, finishing the match without any aces. Their break point efficiency was also poor, going 0-for-3. The Canadian-Ukrainian duo managed to win only 14 service points and three service games, a statistic that highlighted their challenges on the court. They were unable to get past Townsend and Siniakova, who played a near-perfect match, especially in the second set, where they dominated with a commanding 6-0 scoreline.
On the other hand, Townsend and Siniakova were impressive throughout. The American-Czech pair displayed excellent serving and return games, hitting four aces, committing just two double faults, and winning 34 service points. Their ability to win eight of their service games proved to be crucial, as they controlled the pace of the match and never allowed their opponents to get back into the game.
This doubles defeat followed Fernandez’s earlier exit in the singles event, where she was defeated 6-4, 6-2 by American teenager Coco Gauff in the third round. While Fernandez had hoped to continue her deep run in both singles and doubles, her performance in the doubles was nowhere near the level needed to advance, as the team struggled with their form and couldn't find their rhythm.
In contrast, there was positive news for Canadian tennis fans on the same day. Gabriela Dabrowski from Ottawa and her doubles partner Erin Routliffe, from New Zealand, delivered a thrilling performance to reach the women’s doubles quarterfinals. In a match that lasted almost 2 ½ hours, Dabrowski and Routliffe overcame Laura Siegemund of Germany and Beatriz Haddad Maia of Brazil in a tense three-set battle. The final score was 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-4, showing the resilience and skill of the Canadian-New Zealand pair.
Dabrowski and Routliffe’s match was a roller-coaster affair, as they started slowly, losing the first set in a tiebreak. However, they turned the tide with a strong second set, which they won 6-3, and clinched the third set 6-4 to seal the victory. Dabrowski and Routliffe ended the match with three aces and a solid 73% win rate on first serves. They also saved six of seven break points, which proved to be the key to their victory. Their ability to dominate in the latter part of the match demonstrated their growing confidence and chemistry on the court.
Looking ahead, Dabrowski and Routliffe will now face Miyu Kato of Japan and Renata Zarazua of Mexico in the quarterfinals. After a challenging start, the Canadian and New Zealand duo will be hoping to build on their success and continue their run deep into the tournament.
