No Canadian players secured spots in the singles draws at the U.S. Open after both Bianca Andreescu and Liam Draxl suffered defeats in the final round of the qualifying tournament in New York. Andreescu lost to Tamara Zidansek from Slovenia with a score of 2-6, 6-3, 6-4. Despite firing seven aces during the match, the 2019 U.S. Open women’s champion struggled to win net points, only claiming 10 out of 21 available. The match began on Thursday but was postponed due to rain when Andreescu was leading 2-0. Draxl, hailing from Newmarket, Ont., also faced a tough loss against Tristan Schoolkate from Australia, with a final score of 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7).
Although both players managed to secure four breaks each, Schoolkate gained the upper hand by breaking Draxl’s serve to take a 4-3 lead in the third set and nullifying Draxl’s early advantage.
Looking ahead, Montreal’s Felix Auger-Aliassime, Denis Shapovalov from Richmond Hill, Ont., and Leylah Fernandez from Laval, Que., will be representing Canada in the main draw action of the tournament.
In other news, Aryna Sabalenka and Jessica Pegula lauded the U.S. Open for its record prize money distribution and the establishment of a Grand Slam player advisory council. These moves come in response to calls from top players for a more significant share of the revenue. Sabalenka, the world No. 1, expressed satisfaction with the progress, stating that it could improve the relationship between players and tournament organizers.
Sabalenka, along with men’s world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, participated in a protest earlier in the year by limiting their media appearances at the French Open and Wimbledon to 15 minutes to demand a higher percentage of tournament revenue for prize money.
Pegula, who played a key role in discussions between players and tennis governing bodies, highlighted the unity between men’s and women’s tours as a catalyst for the positive changes seen in player welfare and prize money increases. She emphasized that these developments reflect the ongoing efforts of players to have a more significant say in a sport criticized for its fragmented structure.