Leylah Fernandez didn't capture the U.S. Open title but did capture a lot of hearts

The secret to all the 🇨🇦 tennis success?

Maple. Syrup. 🤣@leylahfernandez | #USOpen pic.twitter.com/Dgab5En4Cz

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 7, 2021

"It's the maple syrup."

From a tennis standpoint, Toronto-born, English tennis player Emma Raducanu defeated Leylah Fernandez in straight sets 6-4, 6-3 to win the women's singles title at the 2021 U.S. Open. Fernandez made a strong impression on the crowds at Flushing Meadows throughout the tournament.

We saw the T-shirts about the maple syrup. When asked about what they were feeding her in Canada that produced this success, Fernandez said, "“I would say it’s the maple syrup. Canadian maple syrup is very good.”

Down 0-3 in the set as well. This is amazing stuff. https://t.co/DQc0bhmeuB

— Gord Miller (@GMillerTSN) September 10, 2021

Fernandez got noticed when she upset the #3 seed and 2020 singles title winner Naomi Osaka 5-7, 7-6 (7-2), 6-4 in the third round. She defeated the #2 seed Aryna Sabalenka in the semifinals 7-6 (7-3), 4-6, 6-4. She became the third female in the Open Era to beat 3 of the top 5 seeds.

Fernandez, who has been 19 now for a week, was ranked 73 before the U.S. Open. She won her first round match in the 2020 tournament and had never been past the 3rd round of a major tournament before this one.

Fernandez, from Montréal, has risen up the ranks to 28.

Bianca Andreescu makes Canadian history with singles title at 2019 U.S. Open

Bianca Andreescu, the Canadian who won the 2019 U.S. Open title, lasted until the fourth round of the 2021 tournament. Maria Sakkari (Greece) defeated Andreescu 7-6 (7-2), 7-6 (8-6), 6-3.

Fernandez wasn't the only Canadian tennis player to have a great tournament. Felix Auger-Aliassime lost in the semifinals 6-4, 7-5, 6-2 to the eventual champion: Daniil Medvedev of Russia. Auger-Aliassime, 21, also from Montréal, became the first Canadian to reach the U.S. Open men's semifinals.

Auger-Aliassime did win the sportsmanship award. Winners most personify the spirit of the game over the course of the series.

In women's doubles, Gabriela Dabrowski (Ottawa) and Luisa Stefani (Brazil) had to withdraw from their semifinal match to the American duo of Coco Gauff and Catherine McNally after Stefani suffered an injury.

Milos Raonic advances to Wimbledon final (2016)

Canadian sports notebook: Bouchard falls short at Wimbledon (2014)

Genie's Army gets set for Bouchard Wimbledon final

Bouchard, Raonic in Wimbledon quarterfinals

Eugenie Bouchard opening eyes to Canadian tennis

Always believe in yourself.@leylahfernandez | #USOpen pic.twitter.com/zPHWWALHIO

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 4, 2021

Eugenie Bouchard to Bianca Andreescu to Leylah Fernandez. Each of them were good and popular (remember Genie's Army). As Andreescu has shown us, tennis has a lot of ups and downs.

Chrissie Evert on ESPN (and TSN) felt Fernandez will be someone to look out for in the next few years. Hopefully, that will happen.

Twitter captures: @usopen; @GMillerTSN; @usopen
photo credit: U.S. Open/ESPN