Canada's Leylah Fernandez and Kazakhstan's Yulia Putintseva were defeated in the Cincinnati Open women's doubles final, losing 3-6, 6-1, 10-4 to the American-New Zealand duo of Asia Muhammad and Erin Routliffe on Sunday. Earlier, Fernandez was seen serving to Ashlyn Krueger of the U.S. during the National Bank Open in Toronto on Thursday, August 8, 2024. The photo was taken by Frank Gunn of THE CANADIAN PRESS.
In a gripping final at the Cincinnati Open, Canada's Leylah Fernandez and Kazakhstan's Yulia Putintseva fell short in the women's doubles, losing to the American-New Zealand duo of Asia Muhammad and Erin Routliffe. The intense match ended with a score of 3-6, 6-1, 10-4 in favor of Muhammad and Routliffe, who played with determination and precision to secure the victory on Sunday.
Fernandez and Putintseva started strong, showing promise in the first set, but their momentum was halted as their opponents turned the tide in the second. The match, which lasted 80 minutes, saw Fernandez and Putintseva winning 61.8% of their first-serve points. However, their efforts were overshadowed by Muhammad and Routliffe’s stronger performance, as they won 74.3% of their first-serve points.
The third-seeded team of Routliffe and Muhammad delivered three aces during the match, though they also committed five double faults. In contrast, Fernandez and Putintseva struggled with their serves, managing three double faults and no aces. Despite their best efforts, they couldn’t match the consistent play of their opponents.
Erin Routliffe, who was born in New Zealand to Canadian parents, previously represented Canada before switching her allegiance to New Zealand in 2017. At 29 years old, Routliffe has climbed to the top of the women's doubles rankings, showcasing her talent and tenacity in the sport.
This final marked a challenging end to Fernandez's run in Cincinnati. The 21-year-old from Laval, Quebec, had already faced a tough singles match in the quarterfinals, where she was narrowly defeated by American Jessica Pegula. The match, which lasted over three hours, was a nail-biter that ended with Pegula winning 7-5, 6-7 (1), 7-6 (3). Despite her loss, Fernandez's performance was commendable, demonstrating her resilience and skill on the court.
As the Cincinnati Open concluded, Fernandez quickly shifted her focus to her next challenge. She is scheduled to compete against Romania's Ana Bogdan at the Tennis in the Land tournament in Cleveland on Tuesday. This event, part of the WTA 250 series, serves as the final preparation for the U.S. Open, the last Grand Slam of the year. Fernandez is expected to bring the same level of intensity and determination to Cleveland, aiming to fine-tune her game before the prestigious U.S. Open.
While the Cincinnati Open did not end with a title for Fernandez, her journey in the tournament highlighted her potential and the promising future she holds in both singles and doubles play. As she continues her campaign on the professional circuit, fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see how she performs in the upcoming events, especially with the U.S. Open on the horizon.
