2021 US Open runner-up Leylah Fernandez was ousted in first round and joins other Canadians | CBC sports

Canada's Leylah Fernandez is eliminated from the US Open on Tuesday after a 7-6(4), 5-7, 6-4 loss to No. 22 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova.

Fernandez, a finalist at the 2022 Grand Slam, was 4-3 up in the deciding third set after earning a break in game seven.

But Alexandrova grabbed the break right back to equalize the set 4-4, and after a serve she claimed her eighth break and won the match in just over three hours.

Fernandez, who entered the tournament ranked No. 67 in the world, has seen her record fall to 24-19 this season.

WATCH l Fernandez eliminated in a 3-hour match:

Leylah Annie Fernandez is eliminated in the opening round of the US Open

Montreal's Leylah Annie Fernandez is eliminated by Russia's Ekaterina Alexandrova (7-6, 5-7, 6-4) in a 3-hour, 3-set match in the opening round of the US Open.

Vancouver's Rebecca Marino, the last surviving Canadian in singles, faced Romania's Patricia Tig later on Tuesday.

On Monday, Felix Auger-Aliassime and Milos Raonic of Thornhill, Ontario were called off Montreal after losses to Mackenzie McDonald (7-6(5), 4-6, 6-1, 6-4) and Stefanos Tsitsipas (6-6) repressed. 2, 6-3, 6-4).

VIEW | Raonic eliminated by Tsitsipas:

Canada's Raonic was ousted by Tsitsipas of Greece in the first round of the US Open

Thornhill, Ontario's Milos Raonic lost 6-2, 6-3, 6-4 to Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece in the opening round of the US Open.

Medvedev prevails in 74 minutes

Daniil Medvedev signaled early on that the US Open could potentially be more than just a two-man race between Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic.

The 2021 champions rolled into the second round on Tuesday, beating Attila Balazs 6-1, 6-1, 6-0 in an hour and 14 minutes.

About 12 hours after Djokovic won comfortably on his return to the US Open, the No. 3-seeded Medvedev looked just as impressive as he did when he defeated Djokovic for the 2021 title, denying the 23-time Major champion from Serbia , which would have earned him his first calendar-year grand slam in men's tennis since 1969.

Alcaraz, the number 1 seeded player, should start his title defense against Dominik Koepfer on Tuesday night.

VIEW | Auger-Aliassime eliminated at the US Open:

Auger-Aliassime from Montreal is surprisingly defeated by the American McDonald at the US Open

Mackenzie McDonald of the USA defeated No. 15 seeded Felix Auger-Aliassime of Montreal 7-6 (5), 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 in the opening round of the US Open.

Alcaraz edged out Djokovic for the title at Wimbledon after Djokovic eliminated the Spaniard in the semifinals en route to the French Open title.

On the hard courts of the US Open, where the Russian also finished second to Rafael Nadal in 2019 before winning his first major tournament two years later, Medvedev certainly has the game to rival.

The program also featured a number of veteran US Open champions. Venus Williams, 43, who won two of her seven Grand Slam singles titles at Flushing Meadows, was due to play qualifier Greet Minnen of Belgium ahead of Alcaraz at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

No. 5-seeded Ons Jabeur, who lost to Iga Swiatek in last year's final, was checked by a coach and coughed and blew throughout her game before beating Camila Osorio 7-5, 7-6 (4).

Also ousted was No.7 Caroline Garcia, a 2022 US Open semifinalist who was defeated 6-4, 6-1 by Chinese qualifier Wang Yafan. But Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova, number 9 seeded, progressed easily by beating qualifier Na Lae Han 6-3, 6-0 in an hour.

Other seeded winners in the men's included Alexander Zverev (No. 12) and Cam Norrie (No. 16). No.29 Ugo Humbert of France was defeated by Matteo Berrettini, runner-up at Wimbledon 2021, 6-4 6-2 6-2.