The
US Open semi-finalists are finding success in a predominantly white sport while also representing the make-up of their country
![Fernandez and Auger-Aliassime show a hopeful side of Canada’s tennis dream](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/3c85eea695b639a35b6f76f5ec9d9a9741980c1e/223_267_4267_2560/master/4267.jpg?width=1200&height=630&quality=85&auto=format&fit=crop&overlay-align=bottom%2Cleft&overlay-width=100p&overlay-base64=L2ltZy9zdGF0aWMvb3ZlcmxheXMvdGctZGVmYXVsdC5wbmc&enable=upscale&s=668884873a65610ad99bc43863beee93)
A few months ago, Leylah Annie Fernandez was far from a household name in
Canada. But after a series of stunning performances at the US Open, she is the toast of the town – french toast with extra maple syrup, to be precise.
The 19-year-old from Quebec celebrated her birthday just days ago and she joins her fellow Montrealer, 21-year-old Felix Auger-Aliassime, in the semi-finals of the US Open. The pair play the men’s and women’s world No 2s in their respective semi-finals: Auger-Aliassime against Daniil Medvedev on Friday night while Fernandez faces Aryna Sabalenka under the Arthur Ashe lights on Thursday.