Fernandez scored his first victory in the main draw of a grand slam tournament earlier this week.
Although Kenin was one of her training partners, the order was heavy for the 17-year-old, who faced the defending Australian Open champion.
The Canadian did not get the slightest breakage bullet. As for the fourth racket in the world, she had five and registered three to take the advantage in the meeting.
In addition, Fernandez committed 6 double faults and 26 unforced errors, against 18 for his opponent.
She’s in the top 5 in the world, and it shows, Fernandez said after the game. She was constantly bringing the balls back, she played a great game. But I didn’t play well, I made too many mistakes.
Above all, I don’t want to take anything away from Sofia, she played very well. But I’d give myself a rating of 2 out of 10 at best, and maybe that’s generous …
Kenin ended the game after 1 h 21 min of play. She will face Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur in the next round.
Leylah Annie Fernandez also loved her experience at the legendary Arthur-Ashe stadium against Kenin.
It was an incredible feeling, she added. I’ve seen so many great players play it on TV. I always told myself that I would play it someday. I hope to play more games there in the future.
Serena Williams
Photo: The Canadian Press / Frank Franklin II / AP
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Serena Williams advances to the next round
Serena Williams (no 3) qualified for the third round with a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Russian Margarita Gasparyan (117th in the world) after a particularly sluggish match.
After a well-conducted first act, the eighth player in the world took a 3-1 lead in the second, then 4-2, but without really managing to fold the match against an opponent very well within her reach.
I hung on and the important thing is to skip this round, she said before leaving the court.
Williams will now meet her compatriot Sloane Stephens (No.26), victorious at Flushing Meadows in 2017.
Dabrowski au second tour en double
Ontarian Gabriela Dabrowski and her American partner Alison Riske easily defeated in the first round, in two sets of 6-3 and 6-2, the Russian duo of Natela Dzalamidze and Irina Khromacheva.
The task promises to be more difficult in the second round as Dabrowski and Riske have an appointment with the favorites, the Hungarian Timea Babos and the French Kristina Mladenovic.
The latter, isolated after playing cards with her compatriot Benoît Paire, positive for COVID-19, had blamed the American Tennis Association after her loss in singles Wednesday.
Other 2nd round results:
Madison Keys (USA/no 7) beat Aliona Bolsova (ESP) 6-2, 6-1
