Canadian teenager Leylah Fernandez continued her stunning giant-killing run at the US Open, defeating fifth seed Elina Svitolina in a nail-biting third set tiebreak to clinch a 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (5) victory.
Fernandez, who turned 19 on Monday, had already taken out two former champions in Naomi Osaka and Angelique Kerber and is now the youngest semi-finalist at Flushing Meadows since Maria Sharapova in 2005.
In what has become a breakout tournament for teenage talent, Fernandez dominated the first set, with her powerful left-handed forehand raining cross-court shots on her Ukrainian opponent.
But Svitolina, who clinched a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics, dug deep and managed to turn the match around.
An early break in the second set put her on the front foot, and with her husband and fellow player Gael Monfils cheering from the stands, she mounted a comeback and surged into a 5-1 lead, eventually winning 6-3.
In the third set, the pair were inseparable on the score sheet, but their body language was markedly different.
Svitolina grunted loudly with each big swing of the racket and screamed at herself when an errant shot landed wide of the tramline.
On the other side of the net, Fernandez, the world No 73, was cool and composed, bouncing lightly on her feet and taking practice swings between points as if to show that she could keep going all night.
Fernandez was dominant at the net, winning 19 of the 24 points in which she moved forwards. At one point, after winning a rally lasting nearly 20 shots, she wheeled away in celebration with her arm raised like Alan Shearer after scoring a goal in his pomp for Newcastle.
But for all of Fernandez’s dramatic rallying, Svitolina had a much more consistent serve. She fired down eight aces, while Fernandez made five double faults.
In the end, it came down to a tie break.
As the crowd inside the Arthur Ashe stadium grew louder, so too did Fernandez’s confidence and she quickly raced into a 4-1 lead.
Although it went to 4-4, the momentum always felt with Fernandez, and she sank to her knees in delight after Svitolina blazed a return long on match point.
“I honestly have no idea what I’m feeling right now,” Fernandez said afterwards. “Throughout the whole match I was so nervous.
“Thanks to the New York crowd, cheering me on, fighting for me and never giving up, I was able to push through today.”
When asked what she was being fed in Canada to make her so strong, the answer was delivered with a wide grin and a chuckle: “I would say it’s the Maple syrup.”
Medvedev survives scare from Dutch qualifier to make third straight US Open semi-final
By Jamie Johnson, in New York
Russia’s Daniil Medvedev survived a late scare from Dutch qualifier Botic Van de Zandschulp to book his place in the US Open semi-finals for the third year in a row.
The 6’6” world number two had not dropped a set all tournament and was cruising at 6-3, 6-0 when the resurgent Van de Zandschulp channeled the energy of the exuberant New York crowd to break back into the match.
Van de Zandschulp had come from behind in six of his seven matches at the US Open and clusters of fans dressed in bright orange spurred on the Dutchman as he took the third set 6-4
He pushed Medvedev hard in the fourth, but lost a crucial service game and ultimately the set, 7-5.
Asked what changed in the third set, Medvedev said afterwards: “Actually, him. In the first two sets he was missing. I was kind of controlling the game.
“In the third set he started missing less, hit with more power, being more aggressive. It started to be much tougher for me.”
The 25-year-old Dutchman, who has never gone further than the second round at a major, hit an impressive 20 forehand winners and pushed his opponent into making 24 unforced errors.
But Medvedev’s dominant serving game proved too strong, as he hit 13 aces and won 83 per cent of points on his first serve.
His consistent returning kept Van de Zandschulp under pressure, and he hit winners with a flourish, including a leaping backhand to make it 5-1 in the first set.
Medvedev will now face either 21-year-old Canadian Felix Auger Aliassime, who is seeded 12th, or the exciting 18-year-old Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz.
Novak Djokovic is still lurking on the other side of the draw, but Medvedev is the form player, having won the most hard court titles (11), played in the most hardcourt finals (16) and won the most number of hard court matches (145) since 2018.
Fernandez vs Svitolina, as it happened
10:09 PM
That’s all folks
We were made to wait for Fernandez and Svitolina to start and at the end, it was one of the matches of the tournament.
On Wednesday, Britain’s Emma Raducanu bids to join her fellow teen in the semi-finals. Telegraph Sport will have live coverage of her match with Belinda Bencic from 4pm.
09:55 PM
Fernandez speaks
I honestly have no idea what I’m feeling right now. I was so nervous throughout the whole match. I was trying to do what my coach was telling me to do but thanks to you, the New York crowd, I was able to push through today.
I have to trust myself. Svitolina is a great player. She runs for everything and deserves to be in the quarter-finals. I was honoured to have a fight with her. I just told myself to go for every point. I’m glad I did.
I’m just very lucky to have my family over here. They are very excited for me so they tell me to enjoy it and tomorrow will be a new day so start from zero and work hard now.
09:48 PM
NBA legend Magic Johnson hails Leylah
09:40 PM
The winning moment
09:35 PM
Five down, two to go for Fernandez
09:27 PM
Fernandez 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 Svitolina – TIEBREAK
First blood to Fernandez as Svitolina puts a forehand long, 1-0. Unreturned Svitolina serve down the T, 1-1. 71mph Svitolina second serve is put away by a Fernandez forehand return winner, 2-1. Svitolina backhand into the net, 3-1. Svitolina pulls a backhand wide, very nervy shot, 4-1. Fernandez forehand into the tramlines, 4-2.
Svitolina ace, 4-3. Fernandez forehand into the net, 4-4. Svitolina forehand into the net after a 19 shot rally, 5-4. Unreturned Svitolina serve, 5-5. Fernandez forehand on the run clips the tape and flies down the line, 6-5. GAME>SET>MATCH FERNANDEZ. Svitolina return long, 7-5.
09:18 PM
Fernandez 6-3, 3-6, 6-6 Svitolina* (*denotes server)
Svitolina nets a backhand on the run, 0-15. But she drills a backhand down the line that’s too big for Fernandez, 15-15.
Svitolina backhand winner, 30-15. Svitolina double fault, 30-30. Svitolina forehand winner, 40-30. 16 winners apiece in this set.
And into a final set tiebreak we go as Fernandez’s backhand drifts wide. Incredible tension.
09:14 PM
Fernandez* 6-3, 3-6, 6-5 Svitolina (*denotes server)
Svitolina forehand long, 30-15. Fernandez forehand winner, 40-15. Back-to-back forehand errors by Fernandez, deuce.
Wow. What a rally. 23 shots again. And Fernandez ends it with a backhand winner. And she holds when Svitolina’s return goes long.
The level of tennis is so high right now.
09:08 PM
Fernandez 6-3, 3-6, 5-5 Svitolina* (*denotes server)
The long rallies are starting to go in Svitolina’s favour. A 23 shot battle ends with a Fernandez error, 30-0. Svitolina double fault, 30-15.
Another big Fernandez forehand down the line is too much for Svitolina, 30-30. Svitolina forehand winner, 40-30.
Svitolina has upped her game and it shows. She gets Fernandez on the run and closes the game with a drop volley.
09:01 PM
Fernandez* 6-3, 3-6, 5-4 Svitolina (*denotes server)
Perfect start by Fernandez as she wrong foots Svitolina with a forehand winner, 15-0. Fernandez double fault. Fernandez backhand wide, 15-30.
Yet another Fernandez forehand winner, 30-30. 20-shot rally ends with Fernandez putting a backhand long, 30-40.
Too good from Svitolina as she takes charge of the rally and finishes with a drive forehand winner.
08:57 PM
Fernandez 6-3, 3-6, 5-3 Svitolina* (*denotes server)
Fernandez forehand winner, her 35th winner of the match, 30-30. Svitolina with back-to-back aces to hold.
Can Fernandez hold her nerve?
08:54 PM
Fernandez* 6-3, 3-6, 5-2 Svitolina (*denotes server)
Jaw dropping speed and footwork by Fernandez as she chases down a Svitolina drop shot and hits a forehand winner. The crowd love it.
An 18th forehand winner by Fernandez makes it 30-0. Nice angled backhand winner from Svitolina. Big first serve by Fernandez gets the return error from Svitolina, 40-15. Nervy forehand by Fernandez, 40-39.
Bad drop shot by Fernandez but she gets away with it when Svitolina doesn’t do enough with her forehand down the line and the teen’s passing shot is too hot for the Ukrainian.
08:49 PM
Fernandez 6-3, 3-6, 4-2 Svitolina* (*denotes server)
Fernandez guesses right and whips a forehand winner down the line, 0-30. Now’s it’s Fernandez’s turn to run around her backhand to hit an excellent forehand cross court return for a winner. Three break points.
Svitolina saves the first. But not the second as she puts another forehand down the line and Svitolina can’t get the ball back into play. Fernandez breaks again.
08:44 PM
Fernandez* 6-3, 3-6, 3-2 Svitolina (*denotes server)
Fernandez double fault, 15-15. Bit of luck for Svitolina as her forehand hits the net cord and drops on Fernandez’s side, 15-30.
Fernandez forehand long, 15-40. Two break points. Fernandez saves the first with an ace.
But not the second as Svitolina runs around her backhand to hit an excellent forehand cross court return for a winner.
08:40 PM
Fernandez 6-3, 3-6, 3-1 Svitolina* (*denotes server)
No easy service games at the moment. Both players having to work very hard. 73mpg second serve by Svitolina and Fernandez drills a forehand winner down the line.
Fernandez drop shot drags Svitolina in, the pair duel at the net and Fernandez comes out on top when Svitolina can’t get the ball back in play. Fernandez breaks!
08:35 PM
Fernandez* 6-3, 3-6, 2-1 Svitolina (*denotes server)
Fernandez double fault, 0-30. She found herself in a similar position in her last service game.
And once again she gets back to 30-30, this time with a volley winner.
Svitolina backhand long, 40-30. Fernandez forehand long, deuce. Outrageous swinging forehand by Fernandez off a high ball. And she holds again.
08:30 PM
Fernandez 6-3, 3-6, 1-1 Svitolina* (*denotes server)
Svitolina forehand winner, 30-15. Boom, big-hitting by Fernandez and she drills a forehand down the line, 30-30.
Fernandez return wide, 40-30. Fantastic rally and great hands by Fernandez but Svitolina is able to finish off with a volley winner.
08:26 PM
Third set: Fernandez* 6-3, 3-6, 1-0 Svitolina (*denotes server)
Fernandez nets a forehand, 0-30. Early opportunity for Svitolina. But Fernandez pulls it back with some good serving.
Svitolina forehand into the net, 40-30. And Fernandez holds from 0-30 when Svitolina puts a forehand backhand long. Big hold.
08:19 PM
Fernandez 6-3, 3-6 Svitolina* (*denotes server)
Tight forehand by Svitolina into the net, 0-15. Fernandez on the attack and Svitolina gets a backhand, 0-30.
Back-to-back unreturned serves for Svitolina. Great angled backhand return by Fernandez, break point.
Good defense by Svitolina again and Fernandez puts a forehand long, deuce. Deep Fernandez return and Svitolina shanks a backhand, second break point.
Svitolina attacks Fernandez and is rewarded with an error, deuce. Svitolina saves another break point with a brilliant forehand pass.
Svitolina forehand winner, set point. Svitolina ace. We are going the distance on Arthur Ashe folks.
08:12 PM
Fernandez* 6-3, 3-5 Svitolina (*denotes server)
Lovely rally between the two players and Fernandez guesses right to whips a forehand winner pass Svitolina, 40-0.
Fernandez double fault, her second of the match, 40-15. And Fernandez holds with a backhand winner.
Pressure shifts to Svitolina again.
08:07 PM
Fernandez 6-3, 2-5 Svitolina* (*denotes server)
Brilliant backhand pass by Svitolina, 15-15. Deep return and a drive forehand winner by Fernandez, 15-30.
Another deep return by Fernandez and Svitolina goes long with a backhand, two break back points.
Svitolina saves the first with a big first serve. But not the second as Fernandez hits a backhand return winner off a weak Svitolina second serve.
08:04 PM
Fernandez* 6-3, 1-5 Svitolina (*denotes server)
Fernandez’s first serve percentage has dropped. She’s made 5/14 in this set and Svitolina is taking advantage with some big returns.
Defensive backhand slice by Fernandez earns Svitolina a break point, 30-40. Terrific speed by Svitolina to chase down a Fernandez drop shot and she finishes with a backhand pass. She’s completely turned this match around.
07:59 PM
Fernandez 6-3, 1-4 Svitolina* (*denotes server)
The match has turned here and Svitolina is giving off a lot of positive energy. It’s not Svitolina winning the long rally and making Fernandez do all the running.
She holds to love when Fernandez puts a return long.
07:57 PM
Fernandez* 6-3, 1-3 Svitolina (*denotes server)
An opening for Svitolina as Fernandez puts a forehand long, 0-30. Exceptional defence by Svitolina and she gets the forehand error from Fernandez.
Fernandez saves the first with a backhand winner. But Svitolina’s deep return draws another error from Fernandez and she breaks for the first time.
07:52 PM
Fernandez 6-3, 1-2 Svitolina* (*denotes server)
Fernandez steps in and cracks another return winner past Svitolina, 30-15. Svitolina responds with a big first serve but then double faults, 40-30.
‘Come on’ screams Svitolina as Fernandez nets a backhand.
07:50 PM
Fernandez* 6-3, 1-1 Svitolina (*denotes server)
Better from Svitolina, she clearly looking to at least match Fernandez’s aggression. But Fernandez holds to 30 and hangs on.
07:44 PM
Second set: Fernandez 6-3, 0-1 Svitolina* (*denotes server)
Svitolina starts the must win set with an ace and she completes an easy hold when Fernandez puts a forehand long.
07:41 PM
Fernandez* 6-3 Svitolina (*denotes server)
Serving for the set, Fernandez nets a forehand on the opening point. Wild forehand return by Svitolina flies well wide, 15-15.
Fernandez gets Svitolina on the run again and draws the backhand error, 30-15. Fernandez forehand is just wide, 30-30.
More great offense by Fernandez and Svitolina’s backhand is wide. Set point. Svitolina goes on the attack again and Fernandez’s forehand is wide.
HUGE cross court Fernandez backhand. Second set point. Svitolina backhand long and Fernandez takes the set. Impressive stuff from the teen.
07:34 PM
Fernandez 5-3 Svitolina* (*denotes server)
A 75mph second serve by Svitolina is punished again by Fernandez’s forehand, 0-15. Svitolina ace, her second of the match, 15-30.
More aggression from Svitolina and she’s able to take charge of the point and finish with a rare forehand winner, 40-30.
And she holds when Fernandez nets a backhand.
07:30 PM
Fernandez* 5-2 Svitolina (*denotes server)
Fernandez is dominating the baseline exchanges and is pumping up the crowd at every opportunity.
She holds to 15 to consolidate the break. Svitolina will need to tweak her tactics fast.
07:27 PM
Fernandez 4-2 Svitolina* (*denotes server)
Fernandez likes to go down the line but she misses on the forehand then backhand side to put Svitolina 40-15 in front.
Svitolina then dumps a poor drop shot into the net and drills a forehand long, deuce.
Svitolina backhand wide and Fernandez earns her first break point. Good defence by Svitolina and Fernandez misses with the forehand down the line.
Second break point for Fernandez as she crushes a return winner off a Svitolina second serve.
Longest rally of the match, 24 shots, Fernandez drags her opponent all over the court and finishes with a backhand into the open court to get the early break.
07:18 PM
Fernandez* 3-2 Svitolina (*denotes server)
Longest rally of the match so far sees both women go toe-to-toe and ends with Fernandez putting away the forehand volley, 15-15.
The 19-year-old then double faults, 15-30. Big forehand by Fernandez and she comes forward again to finish the point off.
Fernandez backhand winner, 40-30. And we remain on serve as Fernandez holds with a forehand winner into the open court.
07:15 PM
Fernandez 2-2 Svitolina* (*denotes server)
Svitolina holds to 15 with Fernandez struggling to get returns in play early on.
07:11 PM
Fernandez* 2-1 Svitolina (*denotes server)
Fernandez drills a forehand winner down the line, 30-0. That won’t be the last of those today.
But back-to-back errors by Fernandez make it 30-30. Great net play by Fernandez, 40-30.
And she holds with a lovely backhand dropshot.
07:07 PM
Fernandez 1-1 Svitolina* (*denotes server)
Svitolina matches Fernandez with a comfortable hold of her own. No fireworks as of yet…
07:04 PM
First set: Fernandez* 1-0 Svitolina (*denotes server)
Ideal start by Fernandez as she races to 40-0 in her opening service game. And the leftie from Canada holds to 15 when Svitolina puts a forehand long.
06:56 PM
Players on court
Warm reception for both players as they stride on court. Fernandez wins the toss and opts to serve first.
5 minute warm up underway…
06:45 PM
Up next
Fernandez and Svitolina due on court immimently…
06:38 PM
Latest update – Result
It’s all over in the first match of the day. Van de Zandschulp survived to make it 5-5 but he couldn’t force a tiebreak, finally being broken by Medvedev.
Medvedev wins 6-3, 6-0, 4-6, 7-5.
06:27 PM
Latest update
Crunch time on Arthur Ashe with Medvedev a game away from semi-final with Van de Zandschulp serving at 4-5 in the fourth set.
06:11 PM
BREAKING: Raducanu start time confirmed
Just getting confirmation that Emma Raducanu’s quarter-final against Belinda Bencic will be at 5pm on Arthur Ashe stadium.
Telegraph Sport will have live coverage of the match. Until then, our tennis correspondent Simon Briggs has been talking to Virginia Wade, who was the last British woman to lift the US Open title 53 years ago.
Read more here.
05:57 PM
Latest update
Just when it looked like Medvedev was going to sail through to the semi-finals, Van de Zandschulp has overcome his tired legs to win the third set and force a fourth.
Medvedev still the favourite at this stage though!
05:41 PM
What happened the last time Fernandez and Svitolina played each other?
05:31 PM
Latest update
Before Fernandez and Svitolina come out, Daniil Medvedev plays in the first men’s quarter-final against Holland’s Botic Van de Zandschulp.
The second seed has been in complete control and leads 6-3, 6-0, 2-1.
05:15 PM
Good evening
Hello and welcome to coverage from the US Open of the first women’s quarter-final between Leylah Fernandez and Elina Svitolina.
Following the heroics of Emma Raducanu yesterday, Fernandez is back in action and determined to take another major scalp. Fernandez, who turned 19 on Monday, has defeated Grand Slam champions Naomi Osaka and Angelique Kerber in her last two matches and now plays fifth seed Svitolina.
“Seeing all these teenagers, the youngsters doing so great at the U.S. Open… is eye-opening I think to the world, to the tennis world,” Fernandez said after her win over Kerber.
“There is not only like one group of tennis players but there is a new wave of young generations that’s coming up, and just trying to make an impact in the tennis game as much as they can.
“I did have to pinch myself a little bit to see that it actually happened, but I knew that my tennis, my level of tennis is there. It’s just a moment of time, opportunity, and I’m glad that I was able to get this opportunity now and that I was able to showcase what I can do in front of these players.
“Even if I would have lost, I would have been proud of myself with the way that I played, the way that I fought. I was lucky enough to get the win today and just getting this experience. It’s my first quarter-finals in a grand slam. I’m just going to enjoy it at 100 per cent, and tomorrow is going to be a new day.”
Svitolina swept past former Wimbledon champion Simona Halep to book her spot in the quarter-finals.
The Ukrainian Olympic bronze medallist, who is still searching for a first grand-slam title, is yet to drop a set in the tournament and wrapped up a 6-3, 6-3 victory on Sunday.