Bianca Andreescu and Leylah Annie Fernandez knock out seeded players at French Open

Bianca Andreescu (JazzyJoeyD, Wikimedia Commons)

All Canadians have now competed play in the first round of the 2023 French Open at Roland Garros, and three Canadians have advanced to round two. Bianca Andreescu of Mississauga, Ontario and Leylah Annie Fernandez of Montreal, Quebec upset their seeded opponents, while Denis Shapovalov won a five set thriller on the men’s side.

Andreescu was facing Victoria Azarenka of Belarus, the 18th seed on Tuesday, in the only first round match on the men’s or women’s side where both players were a grand slam champion. Azarenka won the 2012 and 2013 Australian Open, where Andreescu won the 2019 United States Open. Andreescu lost the first set, but won key games in the second and third sets to win the match, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4. Andreescu had five aces while Azarenka had none.

Fernandez beat the 21st seed, Magda Linette of Poland, 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 on Sunday. It was a struggle for Fernandez in the second set, but she won key games in the first and third set to take the match.

Shapovalov, the 26th seed, beat Brandon Nakashima of the United States 6-4, 7-5, 4-6, 3-6, 6-3 on Monday. Shapovalov had six aces to Nakashima’s four, but if Shapovalov hopes to make a run in Paris, he will have to improve his serve. He had 15 double faults in round one.

Andreescu will next play Emma Navarro of the United States in round two. This will be their first head-to-head meeting. Andreescu is 42nd in the world and Navarro is 75th.

Fernandez will next play Clara Tausen of Denmark in round two. This will be their first head-to-head meeting. Fernandez is 49th and Tausen is 127th.

Shapovalov will next play Matteo Arnaldi of Italy, the 106th ranked player in the world, in round two. This will be their first head-to-head meeting.

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