No Canadian players secured spots in the singles draws at the U.S. Open after Bianca Andreescu and Liam Draxl were defeated in the final qualifying round in New York. Andreescu lost a close match to Slovenia’s Tamara Zidansek, with the 2019 U.S. Open champion struggling on net points despite firing seven aces. The match, which began on Thursday and was interrupted by rain, ended with Andreescu falling 2-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Similarly, Draxl’s qualifying match against Australia’s Tristan Schoolkate was pushed to Friday, where he ultimately lost 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7). Both players managed to secure four breaks, but Schoolkate’s late break in the third set gave him the edge over Draxl.
Looking ahead, Montreal’s Felix Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov from Richmond Hill, Ont., will represent Canada in the men’s main draw, while Leylah Fernandez of Laval, Que., the 2021 runner-up, will compete in the women’s side.
In other news, Aryna Sabalenka and Jessica Pegula commended the U.S. Open for its record prize money allocation and the establishment of a Grand Slam player advisory council. The tournament announced a record $108 million US prize purse for this year, responding to calls from players for a larger share of revenues. Sabalenka, a vocal advocate for improved player compensation, expressed optimism that these developments would improve relations between players and tournament organizers.
Unity between the men’s and women’s tours was highlighted as a key factor in achieving progress, with Pegula emphasizing the positive outcomes of collaborative discussions. Pegula noted the unprecedented steps taken, including the formation of a council, player welfare contributions, and increased prize money, all driven by player pressure to have a greater say in the sport’s decision-making processes.
