No Canadians secured spots in the U.S. Open singles draws after Bianca Andreescu and Liam Draxl were defeated in the final round of the qualifying tournament on Friday in New York. Andreescu lost to Tamara Zidansek from Slovenia in a closely contested match, with Andreescu struggling on net points despite firing seven aces. The match was initially played on Thursday but was interrupted due to rain, with Andreescu leading 2-0 at the time. Draxl also faced a tough defeat against Tristan Schoolkate from Australia after a competitive match that ended with Schoolkate emerging victorious.
Moving forward, Montreal’s Felix Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov from Richmond Hill, Ont., will represent Canada in the men’s singles main draw, while Leylah Fernandez from Laval, Que., the 2021 runner-up, will compete in the women’s singles event.
Meanwhile, tennis players Aryna Sabalenka and Jessica Pegula expressed appreciation for the record prize money allocation at the U.S. Open and the establishment of a Grand Slam player advisory council. This move comes in response to demands from top players for increased prize money and a more significant role in decision-making within the sport. Sabalenka highlighted the positive impact these developments could have on the relationship between players and tournament organizers, emphasizing the progress made in addressing player compensation concerns.
Sabalenka and men’s world No. 1 Jannik Sinner were part of a group of players who limited their media engagements at previous tournaments to advocate for a higher share of tournament revenue devoted to prize money. Pegula, actively involved in player discussions with tennis governing bodies, commended the unity between male and female players that has led to tangible advancements in player welfare and prize money increases. She acknowledged the collective efforts of players to push for a stronger player voice in the sport’s decision-making processes, aiming to address longstanding criticisms of the sport’s governance structure.