US Open | Shapovalov, Diallo, Fernandez and Andreescu lose in 1st round

(New York) Canadians Denis Shapovalov, Gabriel Diallo and Leylah Fernandez were just passing through the US Open tennis tournament on Tuesday, all three being eliminated in the first round.

Shapovalov lost 6-4, 7-5, 6-4 to Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp, a player he had beaten in their only previous meeting, at Indian Wells earlier in 2024.

The 25-year-old Ontarian, currently 105^e in the world, was broken six times. He put only 55% of his first serves in play and committed 11 double faults.

As for Montrealer Gabriel Diallo, he had an appointment this afternoon with Spaniard Jaume Munar, 72^e world champion. The 27-year-old has never made it past the second round of a Grand Slam tournament.

Diallo, 22, earned his spot in the main draw of the US Open after making it through three rounds of qualifying last week.

In the women’s competition, Quebecer Leylah Annie Fernandez lost 2-6, 6-4 and 7-5 to Russian Anastasia Potapova, 43^e to the world.

The 21-year-old from Laval had an unblemished 4-0 career record against Potapova heading into this matchup, having beaten her in Madrid and Strasbourg earlier this season.

For her part, Ontario’s Bianca Andreescu had quite a challenge to face in the evening since she had to measure herself against Italian Jasmine Paolini, fifth seed.

The 2019 US Open champion has lost both of her career meetings with Paolini – at the French Open and then at Wimbledon this year.