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Leylah Fernandez continues impressive US Open run, ousts 5th-seeded Elina Svitolina

Leylah Fernandez's Cinderella run in the US Open continues with a huge quarterfinal win. Robert Deutsch/Reuters
By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--Leylah Fernandez's surprising run in the US Open continued on Wednesday (Philippine Time) as she knocked out Elina Svitolina in tough three-set quarterfinal finish, 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (5) at the Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York City.

Needing to play the full length of the match plus a tiebreaker in the final set, the Filipino-Canadian sensation added Svitolina, seeded fifth in the women's singles division, to her list of giants slain so far.

Fernandez, who just turned 19 on Monday, became the youngest US Open women's semifinalist since an 18-year-old Maria Sharapova made it to the Final 4 in 2005.

Fernandez also became the youngest to knock out two of the top five seeds since Serena Williams, also aged 18 then, did the same trick en route to winning the 1999 US Open title.

Fernandez made headlines after shocking third seed Naomi Osaka in straight sets during the second round.

Stepping in the way for Fernandez in the semifinals set for Friday (Philippine Time) Aryna Sabalenka.

Sabalenka, seeded second in the tournament, knocked off reigning French Open champ Barbora Krejcikova, 6-1, 6-4, later Wednesday in another quarterfinal battle.

Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno

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