All Canadian players failed to secure spots in the U.S. Open singles draws via the qualifying tournament as Bianca Andreescu and Liam Draxl faced defeats in their final round matches on Friday in New York. Andreescu lost to Tamara Zidansek of Slovenia in a tough battle that ended 2-6, 6-3, 6-4. Despite firing seven aces during the match, the 2019 U.S. Open women’s champion struggled with net points, only managing to win 10 out of 21 available points in a match that lasted two hours and 44 minutes. The match began on Thursday but had to be halted due to rain when Andreescu was leading 2-0.
Draxl, hailing from Newmarket, Ontario, also suffered a defeat in his qualifying match against Tristan Schoolkate from Australia after a closely contested match that ended 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7).
Both players had a similar number of breaks, but it was Schoolkate who managed to break serve last, taking the lead 4-3 in the third set and overcoming an early advantage held by Draxl.
When the main draw action kicks off on Sunday, Montreal’s Felix Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov from Richmond Hill, Ontario, will represent Canada on the men’s side, while Leylah Fernandez from Laval, Quebec, the 2021 runner-up, will compete on the women’s side.
Sabalenka and Pegula Welcome Prize Money Boost and New Player Council
Top players Aryna Sabalenka and Jessica Pegula have lauded the U.S. Open’s decision to allocate a record prize money of $108 million US for this year’s tournament and to establish a Grand Slam player advisory council. They mentioned that the movement for players to receive a larger share of revenue is gaining momentum.
The creation of the advisory council by the four Grand Slam tournaments comes after increasing demands from leading players for enhanced prize money and more involvement in decisions affecting the sport. Sabalenka, the current world No. 1, who has been vocal about improving player compensation, expressed optimism that these developments could help improve the relationship between players and tournament organizers.
“We’re thrilled that we are finally moving towards where we aimed to be right from the beginning,” said Sabalenka during a press briefing on Friday.
Earlier this year, Sabalenka and men’s world No. 1 Jannik Sinner limited their pre-tournament media interactions at the French Open and Wimbledon to 15 minutes as part of a protest to demand a higher percentage of tournament revenue to be allocated as prize money.
Unity Key in Player Council Discussions
The symbolic 15-minute limit was meant to represent the approximately 15% of tournament revenue typically allocated to player prize money. Pegula, an American player actively involved in player discussions with tennis governing bodies, highlighted the unity between the men’s and women’s tours as a crucial factor in achieving tangible progress.
“The accomplishments by the players have been remarkable,” Pegula stated. “The establishment of a council with the Grand Slams, the player welfare contribution, and the increase in prize money are unprecedented achievements.”
Pegula, currently ranked world No. 3, emphasized that these initiatives reflect the persistent efforts of players to have a stronger say in a sport that has long been criticized for its fragmented structure.