Canada's Fernandez, partner Townsend fall in Madrid women's doubles semifinals

MADRID — Canada's Leylah Fernandez missed out on her third women's doubles final of the season when she and American partner Taylor Townsend fell 6-4, 0-6, 10-6 to Victoria Azarenka of Belarus and Brazil's Beatriz Haddad Maia on Friday at the Madrid Open.

Fernandez, of Laval, Que., and Townsend got off to a quick start with a break in the opening game.

Azaranka and Haddad Maia would come back to score four breaks on seven chances in taking the first set.

Fernandez and Townsend posted a 6-0 set for the second straight match in a dominant second frame. The North Americans broke their opponents three times on six chances while saving both break points they faced.

The duo could not hold the momentum in a third set that saw Fernandez and Townsend win just 25 per cent of total service points.

Azarenka and Haddad Maia will play the top-seeded American duo of Jessica Pegula and Coco Gauff for the title.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 5, 2023.