Leylah Annie Fernandez vs Aryna Sabalenka Prediction & Betting Tips - US Open, New York, USA

Prediction published on 09/09/2021, 12:44  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 09/09/2021 at 13:45 in Tennis Predictions

A first time Grand Slam singles champion will be crowned on Saturday. None of the four semi-finalists have won a title or even played in a Grand Slam singles final. Second seeded Arya Sabalenka takes on unseeded teenager (it's the latest fad in New York) Leylah Fernandez. Sabalenka is the world number two but even if winning this title won't go past Ashleigh Barty. Wimbledon was the first time that the Belarusian made it to Grand Slam semi-final, losing to Karolina Pliskova. You wait ages for one to arrive and then two come as Sabalenka is in a second sucessive Grand Slam semi-final. Wins in this tournament have come against Nina Stojanovic, Tamara Zidansek, Danielle Collins, former doubles partner Elise Mertens (who she has won two women's doubles Grand Slam titles with, including the US Open) and in the last eight, Barbora Krejcikova. Just one set has been dropped by Sabalenka, that was her first of the tournament. The last three matches have seen her drop just 16 games.

Earlier this week, Leylah Fernandez celebrated her 19th birthday. It's also been the biggest week of her tennis career. The Canadian began the US Open ranked 73rd in the world. Now the live rankings have her at 36th. One tournament has already been won this year by the Canadian. That was a WTA 250 event in Monterrey. Fernandez didn't build on that success until this week. This is her first time past the last 16 since that tournament win. Her form has returned in this US Open though with victories over Ana Konjuh, Kaia Kanepi, defending champion Naomi Osaka (after losing the first set), 16th seeded Angelique Kerber (again losing the first set) and then in the last eight, beating fifth seeded Elina Svitolina in three sets, this time winning the first. Back Sabalenka to win this and at last make it into a Grand Slam final where either Emma Raducanu (she couldn't could she?) or Maria Sakkari await