In September 2021, Arthur Ashe Stadium turned into a real colosseum, where spectators went crazy over the unpredictability of each set. Tennis is not just dry statistics, but also the frenzied energy of the stands, sincere tears of disappointment, and triumphant excitement. For many fans who went through 1xBet registration Sri Lanka to back up their intuition with a bet on the underdog, this tournament was a gold mine. New York has always loved bold newcomers, but 19-year-old Leila Fernandez made the city truly fall in love with her.
The authority destroyer
Leila arrived at the 2021 US Open as the 73rd-ranked player in the world. She didn’t have a powerful serve under 200 km/h or impressive size, but she did have a “killer instinct” hidden behind her charming smile. The Canadian made masterful use of her left-handedness, directing balls at angles that seemed physically impossible.
Her incredible drive made fans freeze in awe. Each match turned into an emotional roller coaster, where the belief in miracles of fans from Sri Lanka and other countries was reinforced by the successes of those who dared to go through 1xBet registration to support their favorite. The list of “scalps” that the young tennis player collected on her way to the final looks like an application for membership in the Hall of Fame:
- Naomi Osaka: the four-time Grand Slam winner was defeated in the third round, despite losing the first set to Leila (5:7, 7:6, 6:4);
- Angelique Kerber: the experienced German and former world number one was unable to cope with the Canadian’s pace in the round of 16;
- Elina Svitolina: the then world number five lost in a decisive tie-break with a score of 6:3, 3:6, 7:6;
- Arina Sobolenko: the second seed capitulated in three sets, unable to withstand the psychological pressure and phenomenal defense of Fernandez.
This marathon of victories over top-5 players proved that tactical intelligence and the ability to use crowd support mean much more than ranking numbers. Every rally made the fans nervous, with some even going to 1xBet game to distract themselves from the intensity of the emotions. Leila became the first tennis player after Maria Sharapova (2004) to defeat three top-5 opponents in a single Grand Slam tournament.
The legacy of the “Cinderella” of Montreal
Although Leila lost to Emma Raducanu in the final, she left the US as a national hero. At the end of 2021, she received the Canadian Athlete of the Year award, and her prize money for the tournament amounted to $1.25 million. This success sparked a boom in interest in tennis and betting on 1xBet: every serve became the focus of attention, and each game allowed fans to convert their knowledge of Leila’s form into real excitement. Bets on her matches became some of the most popular, as Leila proved that nothing is impossible in sport.
