Williams and Fernandez Power into US Open Quarterfinals with Dominating Doubles Victory
NEW YORK – Venus Williams and Leylah Fernandez advanced to the US Open quarterfinals on Sunday, defeating No. 12 seeds ekaterina alexandrova and Zhang Shuai 6-3, 6-4 in a 74-minute match.The victory marks Williams’ first major quarterfinal appearance since 2017.
The dynamic duo secured the win with four breaks of serve, showcasing a complementary righty-lefty pairing that effectively controlled the net and consistently pressured their opponents. The win was Alexandrova‘s second loss of the day, following a singles defeat to Iga Swiatek.
Fernandez, the 2021 US Open singles runner-up, displayed a relaxed confidence throughout the match, minimizing the impact of the 23-year age gap between herself and Williams.
“There’s not a lot of strategy talk,” Fernandez said after the match. “I have full confidence in Venus, and I hope she has full confidence in me.”
Turning to Williams, fernandez added, “Seeing you on the court with that same big smile… it’s so inspirational. I love that you love tennis.”
Williams acknowledged the supportive crowd, stating, “Whenever we have a moment when it’s not going perfect, you guys bring us up.”
The pair concluded the match with a synchronized wave, demonstrating their seamless partnership from start to finish.
