No Canadians will advance to the singles main draw at the U.S. Open as Bianca Andreescu and Liam Draxl were defeated in the final round of the qualifying tournament in New York. Andreescu lost to Tamara Zidansek in a hard-fought match, where she struggled on net points despite firing seven aces. The match began on Thursday but was halted due to rain with Andreescu leading 2-0. Draxl also faced a tough battle against Tristan Schoolkate, ultimately losing in a close match.
Moving forward, Felix Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov will represent Canada in the men’s main draw, while Leylah Fernandez will compete on the women’s side. Meanwhile, top players Aryna Sabalenka and Jessica Pegula have praised the U.S. Open’s increased prize money and the formation of a player advisory council. Sabalenka expressed optimism that these developments could improve relations between players and tournament organizers. The players have been advocating for a larger share of tournament revenue and a more significant role in decision-making processes within the sport.
Sabalenka and men’s world No. 1 Jannik Sinner have previously limited their media interactions to 15 minutes as a form of protest for higher prize money percentages. Pegula highlighted the progress made through unity between male and female players, emphasizing the importance of players having a stronger voice in the sport’s governance. The recent initiatives, including the establishment of a player council and prize money increases, reflect ongoing efforts by players to address structural issues within tennis.