Leylah Fernandez has advanced to the third round of the US Open without dropping a set, defeating Shuai Zhang 6-3, 6-2 and Mananchaya Sawangkaew 6-4, 6-1. The Canadian will face No. 3 seed Jessica Pegula, seeking to reach the second week of a Grand Slam for the first time since 2022.
What sparked the 104 mph serve joke?
During an exhibition at the Waldorf Astoria in New York, organisers displayed the fastest recorded serves of participating players at the entrance. Fernandez noticed her 104 mph speed listed alongside much faster serves, including Ben Shelton's 138 to 140 mph and Maria Sakkari's 122 mph. She told Tennis Channel that seeing her number in that context felt like "a huge jab" at her. Her coaching team has since adopted the figure as a running joke, keeping the moment alive as a source of motivation.
How does Pegula matchup compare?
Pegula leads the head-to-head record 3-1 and dominated their most recent meeting at the Miami Open earlier this season, winning 6-2, 6-2. Fernandez has not progressed beyond the third round at a Grand Slam since reaching the fourth round at Roland Garros in 2022, making this a significant test.
Sources
- Tennisuptodate.com: "Facts are facts": Leylah Fernandez hilariously admits her coaches are right about her 104 mph serve. Published 2026-09-02.
Reported from public sources.