Team Canada won their first game of the 2024 United Cup in Sydney, Australia on Sunday. The Canadian team of Leylah Annie Fernandez of Montreal, Quebec and Steven Diez of Toronto, Ontario, beat Chile two matches to one.
Fernandez won both of her matches on the weekend. First, she beat Daniela Seguel, 6-2, 6-3, and then teamed up with Diez, to beat Seguel and Tomas Barrios Vera 7-5, 4-6, [10-8]. Diez lost his singles match, as he was beaten 7-5, 6-4 to Nicolas Jarry of Chile. Fernandez was the face of the Canadian team, as Canadian men’s tennis superstar Felix Auger-Aliassime of Montreal was out with a knee injury.
Fernandez is currently ranked 35th in the world in singles and 20th in the world in doubles. The 21-year-old has been playing some exceptional tennis lately. She was the face of the Canadian team that won the 2023 Billie Jean King Cup in Seville, Spain in November, and beat Katerina Siniakova of the Czech Republic 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 in October.
Canada is one of seven nations to win their first tie of the tournament and currently have a record of one win and zero losses. They are joined by Poland, the United States, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain and Serbia. Canada’s next tie is against Greece on Wednesday.