Leylah Annie Fernandez bowed in pain

Despite a good dose of courage, the 19-year-old was eliminated by Italian Martina Trevisan, 59th in the world, in three sets of 2-6 7-6 (7/3) and 6 -3

Fernandez is the first Canadian to reach the quarter-finals at Roland Garros since Eugenie Bouchard in 2014.

For most of the game, the little left-hander is unrecognizable on the field. At first he was a bit disgusted with the rounded strikes of his 28-year-old Italian rival, but mainly with the physical flaw.

Quebecer injured his foot early in the game. He requested a medical time-out midway through the first inning to receive treatment on his right foot, under the toes.

Back on the court, Fernandez continued to fight, but pain obviously hindered his movements, especially with runs on his forehand.

At one point, TV cameras showed his father and coach, Jorge Fernandez, shouting at him: Don’t give up, play.

So he started shortening the exchanges with more or less success. He received the first set 6-2, a set in which he only made 7 winning strokes, against 15 unforced errors. A very unusual ratio for him.

The combative left-hander, however, gained strength in the second round. More demonstrative between points, Fernandez is almost on par with his rival.

His determination even allowed him to salvage a match point at 5-4 in the service of his rival. He easily won the tiebreaker 7-3, taking advantage of his rival’s nerves, suddenly more tense on the ground.

In the third round, Fernandez continued to fight, but he lacked miracles. Many would have given up, but not Quebecer.

Trevisan suppressed his nerves and, aside from the breaks he got in the 5th and 7th games, he stayed on course for the most important achievement of his career. He converted his second match point, almost an hour after the first.

Leylah Annie Fernandez left the court with dignity, but was no doubt somewhat worried about her state of health.

Already a quarter-finalist at Roland-Garros in 2020, Martina Trevisan became the first Italian to reach the semi-finals at Roland-Garros since Sara Errani in 2013.

He will face the winner of the duel between Americans Coco Gauff and Sloane Stephens.