This archive report was first published on 4 September 2021.
September 4, 2021, marked a memorable night for teenagers at the U.S. Open, as 18-year-old Leylah Fernandez from Canada pulled off a stunning upset against defending women's singles champion Naomi Osaka.
Fernandez, ranked 73rd in the world, had never faced Osaka before but showed no signs of intimidation, dictating play with her topspin forehand and clenching her fist after winning key points.
The match was a thrilling one, with Osaka breaking Fernandez's serve at 5-5 in the second set only to be unable to close out the victory. Fernandez then went on to win the first five points of the ensuing tiebreaker, prompting Osaka to hurl her racket to the court.
Osaka, who had won three more Grand Slam singles titles since her 2018 U.S. Open victory, was unable to overcome the young Canadian's determination. Fernandez's post-match interview revealed her desire to 'stay on the court a little bit longer' and 'put on a show for everybody here.'
