Canada have only had one Grand Slam champion, that being Bianca Andreescu, but Leylah Fernandez and Felix Auger-Aliassime will be hoping to change that after the duo have managed to reach the US Open semi-finals in the women’s and men’s draw respectively.
This year’s event has seen a number of the younger players rise to prominence and there is only one player over the age of 26 left in the women’s draw, that being Czech Republic star Karolina Pliskova.
It is a similar story in the men’s draw with world number one Novak Djokovic, who is 4/5 to lift the trophy and become the first person since Rod Laver in 1969 to complete the calendar Slam, the only competitor remaining over the age of 25.
With the final Slam of the season now at the business end, let’s take a look at who remains in the running to claim the Flushing Meadows spoils!
Fernandez Breaking New Ground
Andreescu triumphed at the 2019 US Open, becoming Canada’s first Grand Slam champion, and after waiting so long for this to happen there is the possibility a second is just around the corner.
Fernandez, who turned 19 on Monday, defeated Naomi Osaka and Angelique Kerber to reach the quarterfinals before then edging out fifth-seed Elina Svitolina in three sets, winning 6-3 3-6 7-6.
The Canadian is the youngest woman to reach the US Open singles semi-finals since Maria Sharapova in 2005 and she will now take on second-seed Aryna Sabalenka for a place in the final.
Available at 6/1 to win the tournament, Fernandez does face a tricky challenge to reach her maiden Grand Slam final, but she has already taken three big scalps to reach this stage and another could be about to fall.
Raducanu Offering British Hope
If Emma Raducanu wasn’t the golden girl of British tennis after her fourth-round run at Wimbledon this summer, she most certainly is now after becoming the youngest British player to reach the quarter-finals of the US Open for more than 60 years.
thank you for an amazing atmosphere & helping me into week 2 @usopen!! Means a lot
pic.twitter.com/W6F9ZcSsHK
— Emma Raducanu (@EmmaRaducanu) September 4, 2021
The 18-year-old is yet to drop a set during the tournament, losing a mere 15 games to this point, and she will now take on 2020 Olympic champion Belinda Bencic for a place in the last four.
It will be another step up for Raducanu, who would become Britain’s number one if she defeats the Swiss, but there is the hope this fairytale run will continue and she might be worth backing at 5/4 to defeat 20/29 Bencic.
Double Win for Canada?
While Fernandez is making strides on the women’s side, Felix Auger-Aliassime is doing the same in the men’s draw and he has managed to reach his maiden Grand Slam semi-final.
The 21-year-old was a set and 3-1 up in the second before Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz was forced to retire and this saving of energy could prove to be a huge bonus for his semi-final tie against Russian Daniil Medvedev, who will be competing in his third straight US Open semi-final.
It promises to be an entertaining last-four clash between these two and with so much on the line, there is every chance this one could go to five sets.
Serbian Not at His Best
Whether it’s the pressure of trying to complete the calendar Slam or just the fact he’s not playing at his best, Novak Djokovic has not looked his fluent self on his path to the quarter-finals, dropping a set in all but one match.
The Serbian now takes on Italian Matteo Berrettini for a place in the semi-finals and the latter will be after revenge, having lost in the final of Wimbledon in the summer.
It has also been tough work for Berrettini, who has dropped four sets to this point, but he will be confident of getting past a less-than-stellar Djokovic and the 5/1 on offer looks a big price.
US Open State of Play:
Men’s Draw
QF – Djokovic vs Berrettini
QF – Alexander Zverev vs Llyod Harris
SF – Aliassime vs Medvedev
Women’s Draw
QF – Raducanu vs Bencic
QF – Plsikova vs Maria Sakkari
SF – Fernandez vs Sabalenka
*All odds correct at time of writing.
