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 on Friday in New York. Andreescu lost to Tamara Zidansek from Slovenia in a hard-fought match where she struggled on net points despite firing seven aces. The match began on Thursday but was interrupted by rain with Andreescu leading 2-0. Draxl also faced a tough battle, ultimately losing to Tristan Schoolkate from Australia in a close match.
Moving forward, Montreal’s Felix Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov from Richmond Hill, Ontario, will be representing Canada in the men’s main draw, while Leylah Fernandez from Laval, Quebec, will compete in the women’s main draw.
Aryna Sabalenka and Jessica Pegula commended the U.S. Open for its record prize money allocation and the formation of a Grand Slam player advisory council. These developments respond to calls from players for a larger share of revenue and a say in decisions impacting the sport. Sabalenka expressed optimism that these changes could improve relations between players and tournament organizers.
Sabalenka and men’s world No. 1 Jannik Sinner were part of a player protest earlier this year, limiting their media appearances to 15 minutes to demand a higher percentage of tournament revenue for prize money. Pegula, who played a leading role in the discussions, highlighted the progress achieved through unity between male and female players in pushing for increased prize money and player welfare initiatives. This unity reflects players’ ongoing efforts to have a more significant influence in a sport criticized for its fragmented structure.