Leylah Annie Fernandez will be the first to recognize it: her second-round match was within reach. Sometimes giant, sometimes short, the Quebecer played with dignity and fiercely against qualified Clara Tauson on Wednesday, even though she lost in three sets of 6-3, 5-7, 6-4.
It is complex to find positive in a defeat, whatever it is. Especially in tennis, in a Grand Slam tournament. A setback is final. The athlete packs his bags for his next destination, leaving behind a tournament still too young and the possibility, however small, of making history.
PHOTO GEOFFROY VAN DER HASSELT, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Clara Tauson
Leylah Annie Fernandez knows all the flavor of a long adventure in a major tournament. She tasted it. She has already made it to the dessert, in the final, less than two years ago at the United States Open. Since then, every tournament is almost disappointing if she leaves the table before making it to the final stage.
The season for Canadian players is disappointing. An unexpected return given the successes of recent months and years. As Roland-Garros approached, Fernandez was possibly the maple leaf’s best hope. She had won 50% of her matches on clay in 2023 and her tournament start had been reassuring against Magda Linette.
The left-hander had every reason to be confident for her second match, against Tauson. The Dane is lower ranked, at 127e World-ranked, she had come from qualifying, so she had played almost four hours more since arriving in France, and despite their identical ages, Fernandez could draw on a lot more experience.
Positive
True to form, the 20-year-old Quebecer was combative and spirited. She took a while to get going, but even though she was down 4-0 in the first set, she came back in the game, up 4-3. Tauson spun with the round, but Fernandez offered a sublime range of shots. She used a variety of attacks, like drop shots. It had been a while since Fernandez had mastered his various ammunition so well.
PHOTO GEOFFROY VAN DER HASSELT, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Leylah Annie Fernandez
The main question mark regarding the 49e world player in her first game was on her serve. She repeated her throw countless times and often the result was insufficient.
In this match, she served well. On his first balls in particular, passing 73% of them. His statistics in the second ball are less brilliant. Particularly in the first set, where she won just 2 of her 13 second-serve points.
Nevertheless, in general, Fernandez has done very well. The result is obviously disappointing for the one who reached the quarter-finals last year. However, its resistance in hot moments is encouraging for the rest of the season.
Tauson responds
The only problem in this game for Fernandez was Clara Tauson.
Both offensively and defensively, she was brilliant.
His flat slaps were heavy and precise. From the top of her six feet, she sent her balls where she wanted with force and aplomb. At times, the ground seemed to widen for her.
Conversely, her work in defense meant that for the Canadian, the field seemed narrower. Even if she tried to outflank her and make her run from east to west, Tauson had an answer for everything. Leaving Fernandez perplexed more than once.
Despite back trouble and a frustrating and uneven end to the second run, Tauson found his ease in the final run. The Dane was having a good day. And Fernandez bails, once again, despite a dignified and reassuring battle.
Denis Shapovalov has an appointment with Carlos Alcaraz
We expected nothing from Denis Shapovalov on the sidelines of the second major tournament of the season. His career has been in circles for several seasons and clay is the surface on which he is least comfortable. At Roland-Garros, he never passed the second round.
However, he’s been doing pretty well since the start of the fortnight. Dashing against Brandon Nakashima, his game was however very “shapovalesque” “. That is to say not very chic, but oddly effective.
He had an appointment with Matteo Arnaldi on Wednesday on court number 12. Le 106e player in the world offered honest opposition to the Canadian, but Shapovalov prevailed 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 and 6-3.
Shapovalov was quick in the first set, winning it within minutes.
The Italian, visibly whipped, came back to life in the second set. If he accumulated the attacks and the varieties of blows, Shapovalov, him, seemed extinguished.
He rejected all of his opponent’s attacks right in the middle, completely on the defensive. Obviously, this strategy was in contrast to the aggressive nature of the southpaw. He let the inning slip 3-6.
The second part of the meeting, on the other hand, was fully to his advantage. Shapovalov excelled in different phases of the game and despite all his good will, Arnaldi was simply unable to maintain the pace, but especially to find solutions as had been the case in the second set.
The Canadian was brilliant in service sequences and especially in his precise, fast and deep returns, Arnaldi was often handcuffed just after landing on his two legs. Shapovalov played with aplomb on the majority of tight spots.
He won the next two sets 6-3.
The good news for him is that he passed the second round for the first time in his career at Porte d’Auteuil. The bad news is that he will cross swords with world number one Carlos Alcaraz in the next round.
Shapovalov is capable of great things. When he’s in full control, he can beat just about anyone. However, Alcaraz will not be easy prey to hunt. The two players have never faced each other, but the Spaniard already has a head start, given the context, the surface, his already rich experience and obviously his talent.