Leylah Fernandez has made it clear that she wants another deep run at the 2026 US Open, five years after reaching her first Grand Slam final in New York. After winning her opening two matches in straight sets, Fernandez advanced to the third round, where she is scheduled to face No. 3 seed Jessica Pegula on September 4. Fernandez says she now feels less burdened by memories of her 2021 final and is focused on enjoying the moment while competing for another long run in the tournament.

Introduction

Leylah Fernandez is approaching the 2026 US Open with a different mindset from the one she carried five years ago.

The Canadian star returned to Flushing Meadows this year with memories of her remarkable 2021 campaign, when she reached the women's singles final as an unseeded teenager. Rather than allowing that history to create additional pressure, Fernandez says she has learned to appreciate what happened and focus on the present.

After progressing through her first two matches in straight sets, Fernandez reached the third round of the 2026 US Open. Her next challenge is a major one: No. 3 seed Jessica Pegula at Arthur Ashe Stadium on September 4.

The matchup gives Fernandez another opportunity to show whether she can reproduce the resilience and aggressive tennis that made her one of the biggest stories of the 2021 tournament.

What Happened?

Fernandez discussed her approach to the 2026 US Open in an interview published by the official US Open website on September 2.

The interview came five years after Fernandez and Emma Raducanu produced one of the most memorable women's finals in recent US Open history. Both players were unseeded, and their meeting was the first Grand Slam women's singles final in more than two decades to feature two teenagers.

Fernandez ultimately lost that final to Raducanu 6-4, 6-3.

For Fernandez, returning to the tournament has therefore involved confronting an important chapter of her career.

She explained that her relationship with that experience has changed over time. Earlier in her career, the memory created additional pressure when she returned to New York. Now, she says she has learned to accept the experience and be grateful for the journey.

Most importantly, Fernandez made her competitive ambition clear: she intends to fight for another deep run at the tournament.

Key Details

• Player: Leylah Fernandez of Canada
• Age: 23 during the 2026 US Open
• US Open seed: No. 31
• 2026 US Open first round: Defeated Shuai Zhang 6-3, 6-2
• Second round: Defeated Mananchaya Sawangkaew 6-4, 6-1
• Third-round opponent: No. 3 seed Jessica Pegula
• Third-round venue: Arthur Ashe Stadium
• Third-round date: September 4, 2026
• Previous US Open best result: Runner-up in 2021
• Career-high singles ranking: No. 13

Fernandez entered the 2026 tournament having not won a Grand Slam main-draw match during the season. Her two opening victories changed that immediately and put her into the third round for the third time in her career.

Background: Leylah Fernandez and Her 2021 US Open Breakthrough

The 2021 US Open remains the defining Grand Slam chapter of Fernandez's career.

As an unseeded 19-year-old, she defeated several high-profile opponents on her way to the final. Her run included victories over defending champion Naomi Osaka, former world No. 1 Angelique Kerber, fifth seed Elina Svitolina and second seed Aryna Sabalenka.

Her run eventually ended against Raducanu, who became the first qualifier to win a Grand Slam singles title.

The significance of that tournament has followed Fernandez throughout her career. But her comments in 2026 suggest that she no longer views the final simply as a missed opportunity.

Instead, she appears to see the experience as part of her development.

That change in perspective could be important as she attempts to make another significant run in New York.

Fernandez Has Already Made a Strong Start in 2026

Fernandez's first two matches at this year's tournament have provided a positive foundation.

She opened against Shuai Zhang, winning 6-3, 6-2. She then produced another straight-set victory against Thailand's Mananchaya Sawangkaew, winning 6-4, 6-1.

The second-round performance was particularly efficient. Tennis Canada reported that Fernandez hit 12 winners and made 11 fewer unforced errors than Sawangkaew.

Those numbers point to a controlled performance rather than a victory based solely on surviving difficult moments.

For Fernandez, that is an encouraging sign ahead of a much tougher third-round assignment.

What Officials and Organizations Said

The official US Open highlighted Fernandez's changing relationship with the tournament and her determination to make another deep run.

Fernandez explained that she previously placed more pressure on herself when returning to New York because of what happened in 2021. Over time, however, she said she has learned to accept the result and appreciate the positive aspects of that journey.

Her message for the current tournament is straightforward: she wants to compete for another deep run.

Tennis Canada also highlighted her efficient progress through the first two rounds and noted that the victory over Sawangkaew put Fernandez into the US Open third round for the third time.

Jessica Pegula, meanwhile, has acknowledged the difficulty of facing Fernandez. Before their third-round meeting, Pegula described the Canadian as an aggressive left-hander who changes direction well, stays close to the baseline and is a strong returner.

Why This Matters

The Pegula match represents a significant test of Fernandez's ambitions.

Pegula entered the tournament as the No. 3 seed and reached the third round without dropping a set. She defeated Elena-Gabriela Ruse 6-3, 6-2 before beating fellow American Sofia Kenin 6-3, 6-1.

That makes the third-round encounter one of the more difficult assignments Fernandez could face at this stage.

It also has an interesting recent-history angle.

Fernandez and Pegula have already met several times. Their 2026 Miami meeting went to Pegula, while Fernandez defeated Pegula in Washington in 2025. The two also played at Cincinnati in 2024.

The matchup therefore brings more than a simple seed-versus-underdog narrative. Both players know each other's games, and Fernandez has already demonstrated that she can challenge high-ranked opponents on the biggest stages.

Fernandez's Changing Mindset

Perhaps the most important part of Fernandez's current US Open story is psychological rather than statistical.

Her 2021 campaign created enormous expectations. Returning to the same tournament every year inevitably brings comparisons with that breakthrough.

Fernandez's latest comments suggest she is trying to separate the current tournament from the past.

Rather than treating the 2021 final as something she must correct, she is looking at it as an important experience that helped shape her career.

That approach could allow her to compete more freely.

At the same time, her ambition has not disappeared. Fernandez is not simply happy to be back in New York. She wants to advance as far as possible.

What Happens Next?

Fernandez is scheduled to face Jessica Pegula in the third round on Friday, September 4, at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Current tournament listings identify Pegula as the No. 3 seed and Fernandez as the No. 31 seed.

As of the latest available reporting, the match had not yet been completed, so Fernandez's eventual fourth-round status should not be assumed.

If Fernandez defeats Pegula, she would move into the fourth round and take another major step toward the deep US Open run she has said she is fighting for.

A loss, meanwhile, would end her singles campaign in the third round.

Either way, her return to this stage of the tournament already represents progress after she entered the 2026 US Open without a Grand Slam match win that season.

The bigger question is whether Fernandez can turn that progress into another memorable New York run.

For now, her focus is clear: compete in the moment, draw on the lessons of 2021 and fight for as deep a run as possible.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who is Leylah Fernandez?

Leylah Fernandez is a Canadian professional tennis player who reached the 2021 US Open women's singles final. She is a left-handed player coached by her father, Jorge Fernandez, and reached a career-high singles ranking of No. 13.

2. What did Leylah Fernandez say about the 2026 US Open?

Fernandez said she has learned to enjoy her return to the US Open rather than carrying the same pressure associated with her 2021 final. She also made clear that she intends to fight for another deep run.

3. Did Leylah Fernandez reach the US Open final before?

Yes. Fernandez reached the women's singles final at the 2021 US Open, where she lost to Emma Raducanu in straight sets.

4. How far has Leylah Fernandez reached at the 2026 US Open?

Fernandez reached the third round after defeating Shuai Zhang and Mananchaya Sawangkaew in straight sets.

5. Who is Leylah Fernandez playing in the third round?

Fernandez is scheduled to play American Jessica Pegula, the No. 3 seed, in the third round at Arthur Ashe Stadium on September 4, 2026.

6. What is Leylah Fernandez's best US Open result?

Her best US Open result is reaching the singles final in 2021.

7. What is Leylah Fernandez's current ranking?

The WTA's latest available player information lists Fernandez at No. 33 in singles, although tournament seeding information lists her as the No. 31 seed at the 2026 US Open. Rankings and seeds are not always identical because they are determined at different points in time.

8. Why is the Pegula match important for Fernandez?

Pegula is one of the highest-ranked players in the tournament and entered the match after two straight-set victories. Beating her would give Fernandez a significant win over a top contender and move her into the fourth round.

Source of Content

This article was researched using the following sources:

• Official US Open / USTA: Fernandez's September 2, 2026 interview and tournament coverage.
• WTA: Fernandez's official player profile, rankings and Grand Slam record.
• Tennis Canada: September 2 report on Fernandez reaching the 2026 US Open third round.
• Reuters: 2026 US Open third-round preview and tournament updates.
• Tennis.com: Current Pegula-Fernandez matchup and head-to-head information.

Reporting status: The Fernandez-Pegula third-round match was still listed as scheduled in the latest available tournament information used for this article. Therefore, no result has been presented as final.