Canada beats Croatia at United Cup

Leylah Annie Fernandez (Hameltion, Wikimedia Commons)

Team Canada is off to a winning start at the 2024-25 United Cup in Perth, Australia. On Friday evening, Canada defeated Croatia two matches to one in Group A action.

The Canadian team was led by Leylah Annie Fernandez and Felix Auger-Aliassime of Montreal, Quebec. Fernandez defeated Donna Vekic of Croatia 6-4, 6-3, and Fernandez and Auger-Aliassime teamed up to beat Lucija Ciric Bagaric and Ivan Dodig 6-3, 6-4. The deciding mixed doubles match needed to be played when Auger-Aliassime lost 0-6, 6-4, 6-4 to Borna Coric.

Fernandez’s win against Vekic was considered an upset. That is because Vekic is ranked 19th in the world, and Fernandez is ranked 31st. Fernandez is a grand slam finalist having reached the final of the United States Open in 2021. It was a strong 2024 season for Vekic as she reached the semifinals of Wimbledon, won the silver medal at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, and reached the final in Bad Homburg, Germany.

Fernandez was simply the Canadian star on Day Two of the event. She came through with two key victories that put Canada in a 1-0 position heading into their matchup against the United States.

In Canada’a match against the USA, Fernandez is facing Coco Gauff, the 2023 United States Open champion, while Auger-Aliassime is facing Taylor Fritz, the 2024 United States Open finalist. Gauff is ranked third in the world in the WTA rankings. Meanwhile in the men’s world rankings, Auger-Aliassime, the 2021 United States Open semifinalist, is ranked 29th, while Fritz is ranked fourth. Fritz is 2-0 all-time against Auger-Aliassime and this is the first ever meeting between Fernandez and Gauff.

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