“May the best player wins”: Leylah Fernandez opens up to face a friend and a compatriot at the US Open

Flushing, New York | Two Canadian women who compete in the first round of the US Open, that means that at least one of them will reach the second round. However, This is not necessarily a luxury: last year. Meanwhile, four of the five representatives of the unifolié had lost in their first match in New York, Gabriel Diallo being the only one to get out of it unscathed.

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But that also means that one of the six Canadian rackets in the running for the last major tournament of the season will fold luggage from the first day of the “may best player wins”: leylah tournament on Sunday.

It will be Leylah Fernandez or Rebecca Marino. Furthermore, The 22 year old little left. 31^e seeded of the United States internationals, or the powerful 34-year-old right-handed, 119^e global and from qualifying.

Photo Martin Chevalier

Two friends, who crossed into the locker room on Saturday, on the eve of their confrontation, scheduled for early afternoon on Sunday, in stadium 17.

“We were trying to laugh about it. We saw each other and we said to ourselves: “Hey, you!” Said Leylah, met by the media on the eve of her entry on the stage.

“It was good, but “may best player wins”: leylah we both know that on Sunday, it’s work. We will want to do our best, and that the best wins. ”

Benchmarks … for Marino

The Quebecer and the British-Colombian have known each other for a long time, said the first. They notably represented the unifolié at the Billie Jean King Cup that they won together two years ago.

“She is an exceptional player, but she is an even more exceptional person,” praised her Fernandez. “In addition, she plays very well, lately.»

“She will start this match with the confidence of her three games won in qualifying. ” also raised the finalist of the US Open 2021.

What’s more. Marino – Old 38^e Global, to his first stay on the circuit – knows the formula to beat his rival that everything opposes, tactically.

The large waitress had triumphed over her compatriot in October 2022. in a WTA 125 circuit test “may best player wins”: leylah in Mexico, with an unequivocal score: 6-3 and 6-3.

“I know it will be an extremely difficult match,” said the Quebecer. “I will try to take advantage of it, to forget that I face a friend and also, a compatriot.”