Miami Open runners-up Leylah Fernandez & Taylor Townsend gush over successful doubles partnership
Leylah Fernandez and Taylor Townsend are delighted with their recent ventures on the women's doubles circuit.
The talented twosome entered the 2023 Miami Open on the back of an ordinary second-round exit at the Indian Wells Open. However, they outdid expectations massively by securing a runner-up finish at the WTA 1000 event.
The Canadian-American pair received praise from critics and tennis lovers around the globe for their resolute nature on the tennis court. They shared their jubilation on social media as Leylah Fernandez reacted to a post by Taylor Townsend highlighting their recent success in Miami.
"Ooo we look geewwdddd," Taylor Townsend wrote on Instagram, as Leylah Fernandez reacted with heart emojis to a post detailing their recent results.
The left-handed duo kicked off their campaign with a solid straight sets win over Timea Babos and Kristina Mladenovic. They then outclassed the likes of Beatriz Hadad Maia/Giuliana Olmos, Jelena Ostapenko/Lyudmyla Kichenok and Magda Linette/Bernarda Pera en route to the final.
Despite pushing second seeds Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula to a tie-break in the opening set, Fernandez and Townsend couldn't outlast them to lift the title. They went down fighting 6-7(6), 2-6 to the Americans.
As for their results on the singles circuit, both Fernandez and Townsend bowed out in the second round of the Miami Open. Swiss No. 1 Belinda Bencic outfoxed the Canadian youngster 6-1, 6-1 and 18th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova edged past Townsend in a close three-set encounter 6-3, 5-7, 6-4.
Taylor Townsend and Leylah Fernandez to compete next at the Charleston Open
Leylah Fernandez and Taylor Townsend are all set to continue their adventure on the doubles circuit at the Charleston Open in South Carolina, United States. They'll be up against the Polish pair of Katarzyna Kawa and Alicja Rosolska in the first round.
The doubles draw of the WTA 500 event will be headlined by the pair of Ena Shibahara and Giuliana Olmos, followed by Zhang Shuai and Kristina Mladenovic, who are seeded second.
While Taylor Townsend has opted not to participate in singles, Leylah Fernandez will kick off her claycourt campaign against Evgeniya Rodina in the first round on Tuesday. The Canadian reached the quarterfinals of the French Open for the first time in her career last year and will be looking to find her best form ahead of the claycourt Major in May.
Fernandez and Townsend will be hoping to emulate their rich vein of form in Charleston and could square off against Caroline Dolehide/Storm Hunter or Ulrikke Eikeri/Miriam Kolodziejova if they win the first round.