Leylah Fernandez reaches 3rd round of Australian Open, Felix Auger-Aliassime ousted

Canadian tennis star Leylah Fernandez showed grit and determination as she overcame a first-set loss and a rain delay to secure a spot in the third round of the Australian Open. The 30th-seeded Fernandez faced a tough challenge against Moldovan-born Cristina Bucsa of Spain, dropping the opening set 3-6. However, she rallied back to claim a hard-fought victory with a scoreline of 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 in a two-hour and 25-minute match.

This win marked a significant milestone for the young athlete from Laval, Quebec, as it was her first time advancing to the third round of a Grand Slam event at Melbourne Park. Despite a slow start and facing more double faults and unforced errors than her opponent, Fernandez managed to turn the tide in her favor after winning the second set. She will now face third-seeded American Coco Gauff in the next round, setting the stage for an exciting matchup.

On the other hand, Felix Auger-Aliassime’s Australian Open journey came to an end as he fell to Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in a grueling five-set battle. Auger-Aliassime, who had recently clinched the title at the Adelaide International, fought hard but ultimately succumbed to his opponent in a 6-7 (9), 6-7 (7), 6-4, 6-1, 6-3 defeat.

In women’s doubles action, the second-seeded duo of Gabriela Dabrowski from Ottawa and Erin Routliffe from New Zealand advanced to the second round after a tough 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 victory over Americans Danielle Collins and Desirae Krawczyk. The pair showcased great teamwork and resilience to secure their spot in the next round.

Meanwhile, former world No. 1 Naomi Osaka made a remarkable comeback in her second-round match against 20th-seeded Karolina Muchova. Despite a shaky start where she trailed 0-5 in the first set, Osaka showed mental fortitude and fought back to claim a thrilling 1-6, 6-1, 6-3 victory. This win propelled her to the third round of a major tournament for the first time since the 2022 season, marking a significant milestone in her comeback journey.

Osaka’s next challenge will be against Tokyo Olympics gold medalist Belinda Bencic, setting the stage for an exciting showdown between two formidable players. With both athletes being mothers and big hitters, the match promises to be a thrilling encounter for tennis fans.

In other notable results, top-seeded players like Zheng Qinwen suffered upset losses, while stars like Aryna Sabalenka continued their winning streaks. Novak Djokovic also made headlines by playing in his 430th career Grand Slam match, surpassing Roger Federer’s record. With exciting matchups and surprising upsets, the Australian Open continues to deliver thrilling action on the courts.