Miami Open: Jessica Pegula advances to Round of 16 be beating Lylah Fernandez

Ranked No. 4, Jessica Pegula says the match was "some of the best tennis I've played."

While most media focused on Alexandra Eala's remarkable run at the Miami Open, today featured a match between Korean American Jessica Pegula and Filipino Canadian Leylah Fernandez with Pegula advancing to the next round.

The high-stakes matchup showcased two of the most prominent Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) figures in professional tennis. Pegula, whose mother was born in Seoul, dominated the baseline to secure a convincing 6-2, 6-2 victory over Fernandez, whose father is of Ecuadorian descent and mother is of Filipino heritage.

AAPI excellence on Center Court

The world No. 4 proved why she is a perennial contender, using her flat, powerful groundstrokes to keep Fernandez on the defensive. Her win marks the sixth straight year she has reached the Miami Open Round of 16.

Pegula described her game as "some of the best tennis I've played."

Despite the scoreline, the young Filipino Canadian star showed flashes of the grit that took her to the 2021 US Open final. However, she struggled to find answers for Pegula’s nearly flawless first serve, which saw the American win 88% of those points.

While the tournament has been abuzz with the historic performance of Filipina 20-year old Eala, this clash between Pegula and Fernandez underscores the growing depth and influence of the AAPI community at the highest levels of the sport.

Pegula now moves on to face No. 35-ranked Jaqueline Cristian on Monday, 7 p.m.

Quick exit for Naomi Osaka

It’s a tough beat for Naomi Osaka and her legions of fans. The four-time Slam champ is officially out of the 2026 Miami Open after a stunner in the second round.

Despite coming in as the 16th seed, Osaka couldn't find her rhythm against Talia Gibson, an Aussie qualifier who took the match 7–5, 6–4. Naomi’s serve was there—she hammered home 13 aces—but she just couldn't break Gibson, going 0-for-4 on break chances.

But the real story is what happened off the court. After the loss, fan favorite Osaka  got real about the "dilemma" she’s facing. She admitted it’s getting harder and harder to leave her daughter, Shai, for the grind of the tour. She basically told reporters that if she isn't winning, the sacrifice of being away from home isn't worth it.

Add in a lingering back injury that forced her to pull out of the Charleston Open, and the retirement rumors are starting to swirl again. For now, the plan is to rest up and try to regroup for the clay-court season in Europe.

FYI: In the Miami Open's round of 16, the Philippines' Alexandre Eala meets Karolina Muchova Monday, March 23, 11 a.m. EDT.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge. 

UPDATED: Leylah Fernandez, Jessica Pegula, Emma Raducanu, Naomi Osaka advance in US Open

US OPEN

Venus Williams, left, congratulates her doubles partner Leylah Fernadez, who advances
in singles and doubles

UPDATED: Added results of Jessica Pegula.

With the US Open's favorite underdog, the Philippines Alex Eala, out in the second round, other women of Asian descent advanced to the third round.

With only two-days before the start of doubles competition, Filipino Canadian Leylah Fernandez, the 2021 US Open finalist, teamed up with the legendary Venus Williams to win their match against sixth-seed pair of Lyudmyla Kichenok and Ellen Perez 7-6 (4), 6-3.

Although they’barely had time to practice together having agreed to play with each other two days earlier, they showed excellent teamwork, with Venus zinging winners from the baseline and Fernandez using her quick hands to deliver kill shots at the net. 

Up 5-3 in the second set, it was Fernandez’s turn to serve. The Filipino Canadian showed her competitive spirt, winning the game at 40-0 and, with Williams, winning the set, 6-3.

The day before, 22-year old Fernandez won her second round singles match against No. 11 seed Karolina Muchova. In the third round, Fernandez will face off against the top-seeded defending champion Aryna Sabalenka.

Playing with two-time US Open champion Williams was a thrill for Fernandez. "I was like a kid on Christmas day just jumping around," said the No. 31 seed Fernandez. "I was so happy. I don't think I stopped smiling for the whole night and even in the morning. I was just super happy and excited."

"She's the best partner I ever played with besides (sister) Serena (Williams)," said Venus Williams in interviews after their match. "We play the same style. I'm just a little bit bigger."

Fernandez was visibly moved by the praise, calling it “probably the biggest compliment I ever got.”

“Thank you, Venus,” she added. “Oh, man. I feel like those are big shoes to fill at the moment.”

Fernandez's match against  Sabalenka today will be a challenge but not impossible. Perhaps playing mind games, the  Belarusian said she doesn't recall the only time the two faced each other. Fernandez took three sets in a thrilling smi-final even though  fiercely fought Sabalenka, ranked No. 2 in 2021 when Fernandez was the underdog favorite and marched to the finals.

Jessica Pegula

Jessica Pegula

No. 4 ranked Jessica Pegula perhaps has the best chance of the Asian players making it to the finals. The Korean American has been there before. In 2024, she lost to Aryna Sabalenka in the finals.

Pegula owns a tour-best three singles titles on the season and shows signs of hitting her stride in time for the US Open. On Wednesday, she beat Anna Blinkova 6-1, 6-3.

On Friday, the 31-year old New Yorker will face two-time Australian Open champion and former No. 1 Victoria Azarenka, who is unseeded for the tournament.

Emma Raducanu

If Fernandez upsets Sabalenka, she very well could face Emma Raducanu of Great Britain in a rematch. They ahven't played each other since the 2021 fnials, which was won by unranked Raducanu.

Playing the best tennis of her career since she shocked the tennis world by winning the 2021 US Open. The unranked Raducanu easily dispatched Janice Tjen 6-2, 6-1. That sets up a the third round contest against No 9 seed Elena Rybakina. The Raducanu-Rybakina match be on Friday.

“I think I’ve had some tough draws but that also comes with the ranking I’m at. I have to accept it, I’m not seeded,” Raducanu told the PA news agency.

Naomi Osaka

No. 23 ranked Naomi Osaka has struggled since she won the US Open in 2020. Playing for Japan where she was born, Osaka has made it to the third round by liminating the United State's Hailey Baptiste 6-3, 6-1 in the second round Thursday.

Osaka, who had mental health struggles, left the tournament circuit after winning four Grand Slam tourneys. The 27-year old Osaka is regaining her competitive spirit but with a new outlook. 

"For me, I realize that I've done everything that I could. I've trained really hard. I practiced really hard. If it happens, it happens," said Osaka, who lives and trains in Los Angeles.

At the top of her game, Osaka was once ranked No. 1 in the world. She next plays Australian No. 15 seed Daria Kasatkina in the third round on Saturday.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge. 

Don't underestimate the power of 'Survivor' winner Filipina Canadian Erika Casupanan

SCREEN CAPTURE

Filipina Canadian Erika Casupanan reacts when she is announced winner of 'Survivor.'

The latest version of pioneer reality show Survivor was unlike any other season: the winner was of Filipino descent.

Erika Casupanan, 32, of Canada made history when she was chosen the winner of Survivor Wednesday night pocketing the $1-million prize.

“I wanna say that it’s actually a three-way tie between breaking the drought of a woman winning, being the first Canadian winner, and being the first person of Filipino descent to win American Survivor,” she said.

The diminutive Casupanan, a former communications manager, played under the radar developing relationships and gaining the trust of other players who continued to keep the Filipino Canadian around for her vote.

She was more than happy to do their bidding all the while developing her own game plan. By the time the other players realized they had underestimated her, Casupanan's role had grown in importance and was among the final three that inclded to male players, 

“I know that I’m a smaller player, people look at me and probably think I’m not going to be able to physically contribute to the tribe," she told Entertainment Weekly. "So, I had to figure out a game play for mitigating that potential risk but at the same time not being a physical threat, not being out in front as someone who could potentially go out and win a bunch of competitions. I knew that that was my strength too. So I thought, if I know that people are going to look at me and they’re not really going to think that I’m a big threat then how do I use that to really go undercover and fly under the radar,” said the articulate Casupanan.

In explaining her strategy to the panel made up the players she helped oust, she had developed this skill in the corporation boardrooms where others in the room thought she was an intern because of her physical appearance, (short, brown and Filipino) all the while she was in charge directing the discussion.

In preparing for her participation, she got her self physically fit, enrolled in gym classes, took swimming lessons and took up boxing; listened to podcasts and watched every episode of Survivor.

She also quit her job as communications manager.

“It was a sacrifice but it was also one of those things where I felt like it was time for that chapter to end," she told EW.

"What better opportunity is there to start a new fresh chapter then go do the craziest adventure of life? It meant changes in my lifestyle. Something that I use to define myself is now gone. It really set me up to be able to enter the game knowing there was no strings attached. I just am the way that I am,” she said unabashedly.

What will Casupanan do with her winnings?

“My parents worked so hard to make sure I’m in a position to make my dream of winning Survivor come true. So my number one priority is my parents,” she continued. “And then my number three priority is buying some really expensive handbags,” she laughed.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AAPI perspective, follow me on Twitter @DioknoEd.

US Open: Chinese Brit teenager moves to semi-finals

SCREEN CAPTURE

Emma Raducanu is one of the teenage stars emerging from the US Open.

Chinese Brit Emma Raducanu couldn't stop smiling after beating Olympic gold medalist Belinda Bencic, 6-3, 6-4, at the US Open.

Eighteen-year old Raducanu from Great Britain was calm and in control against the 11th seeded Bencic of Switzerland.

Raducanu, whose father is Romanian and mother is Chinese Canadian, graduated from high school last Spring before turning pro. 

Her victory puts in in the semi-finals where she will battle 17 seed Maria Sakkari of Greece today at 5:15 p.m. PDT. (check local listings for exact times.)

With her victory, Raducanu became the youngest player to reach the semi-finals since Maria Sharapova in 2005. Ironically, that designation belonged briefly to a possible future opponent, Leylah Fernandez, who celebrated her 19th birthday Monday.

If Raducanu gets past Sakkari, there is an outside possibility that she would meet the tourney's other surprising teenager and fan favorite, Filipino Canadian Fernandez.

First Fernandez must win against No. 2-ranked Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus, who might be her toughest opponent yet. She has already beaten No. 3 Naomi Osaka, No. 16 Angelique Kerber and No. 5 Elina Svitolina.

The unlikeliest of tennis matches of the two teens would mark the first time two players of Asian descent play for the US Open title.  Fernandez plays today at 4 p.m. PDT. (Check local listings for exact times.)

US Open Tennis: Filipino Canadian teen advances to quarter-finals

SCREEN CAPTURE / CBC

Leylah Fernandez is surprising tennis fans at the U.S. Open.

Filipino Canadian Leylah Fernandez might want to change the media's Cinderella comparison to that of Giant Killer as she continues to beat ranked players.

Fernandez, who turns 19 today, followed up her 3rd round upset win over No. 3-ranked Naomi Osaka with a victory over 16-seed Angelique Kerber, 4-6, 7-6, 6-2. The 33-year old Kerber won Wimbledon in 2016 and was formerly ranked No, 1 in the world.

As the score indicates, it wasn't a breeze for Fernandez. The 19-year old Canadian used her accurate serve and a powerful forehand to beat the German player.

After losing the first set, she was behind 4-2 in the second set before she staged her comeback. After that, 

Fernandez doubled over as her victory was confirmed, before she was given a standing ovation by a full crowd on Louis Armstrong Stadium.

"I was just glad I was having fun on the court," Fernandez said.

Born in Montreal, Fernandez was cut from the provincial development program at a young age, with the family moving to Florida to build her and her sister's careers.

Her father Jorge, a former soccer player who turned professional at 13, learned tennis in order to coach his daughter.

"I have been working hard since the day I started playing tennis and the day I set my mind to being a professional," she told the media.

"I expected that one day my tennis game is going to come through and that I'm going to be on the big stage in front of a big crowd and getting the wins."

After beating Osaka and Kerber, she will likely not surprise her next opponent, No. 5 seed Elina Svitolina, whom she will play Tuesday at a time to be determined.

During her press briefing, Kerber praised the teenager. “She has a lot of power in her forehand and, you know, she's going for her winners," said Kerber. "You know, I think she's always also enjoying her tennis out there,” she said.

“Hopefully she can also take all the experience through to the next tournaments and next weeks,” Kerber said. “I think she can go really far in the next few years.”

Canadian waits in line 70 hours to get a taste of Filipino fast food

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John Haworth, right, was the first customer to place his order at Jolibee's in Edmonton, Canada.

The grand opening of Edmonton, Canada's first Jolibee, the Filipino fast-food franchise challenging McDonald's and KFC in the US and Canada, became a bicultural celebration of fried chicken and sweet spaghetti.

After 70 hours of waiting outside in Edmonton, Canada's cold and rain, Jordan Haworth finally was able to get a bite of his first Jollibee chicken. He got in line Tuesday and placed a lawn chair near the entrance so he'd be first in line when the doors opened Friday (Aug. 16).

He wasn't disappointed. “It’s so good,”Haworth said, adding it was worth the wait. “You bite into it and it is crispy, it’s good. You got the salt and it’s juicy as you chew it. Remains in there a little bit, keeps the flavor the entire time.”

Jolibee, which attracts recent immigrants from the Philippines is developing a loyal following in the US and Canadian markets.

Unlike the hundreds of Filipino canadians who flocked to the opening, Haworth had never tasted Jolibee's offerings before Friday. He had heard about Jolibee from his mother who had visited the Philippines. 

By the time the outlet opened its doors at 7 am, The line waiting behind Haworth was 300 people long.

The first 50 customers had the chance to get one year’s worth of chicken if they purchased $25 worth of food. This is not only the first Jollibee to open in Edmonton but Alberta as well. Haworth, who is an event organizer in Edmonton, took advantage of the offer and ordered $50 worth of food.

This fanfare for Jollibee — home of crispy fried chicken, sweet spaghetti, mango pies  and the ever-present hamburger — is not a new phenomenon. When the popular franchise arrived in Scarborough, Ont., last year, the grand opening attracted thousands. The previous record for waiting for a Jolibee opening was in Manhattan where its first customer waited 20 hours.

The 36th person in line was Jonald Alfafara, who had worked at a Jolibee franchise when he was in collge. He got in line Wednesday to make sure he was among the first 50 customers.

“We’ve been waiting for this to come,” he said. “Try it, try everything. My favourite is the burger steak, the spaghetti, the chicken, of course. And the Jolly hotdog and yum burger.”

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Filipino Canadians couldn't wait to get a taste of the Philippines.
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It's a wrap! Shay Mitchell's tearful farewell to "Pretty Little Liars"

Shay Mitchell gives a tearful goodbye to her fans and castmates.

YOU GOT to love a woman who in the middle of baring her soul plucks off her false eyelashes.

Warning: If you watch this video have some Kleenex nearby.

After seven seasons, Shay Mitchell, a Filipina/Canadian, is saying goodbye to her character on the hit show Pretty Little Liars.

Shay Mitchell, a serious fitness devotee, is on
this month's cover of 'Self.'

Though the finale won't be shown until 2017, Pretty Little Liars officially wrapped forever. 

"Please excuse my crying because this was a very emotional moment for me," she wrote to her fans. "I wanted to be able to share this moment with all of you, who have helped me get to where I am today. I am so thankful for all of the support that you guys have given me the past seven years, and I am excited to continue this journey with all of you."

Over the last week, the cast and crew have documented their celebrations, tears, and flashback moments from the show on social media, but none were as raw and deep as Shay Mitchell’s good-bye video she posted Tuesday, November 1, after the final scene of “PLL" wrapped.

With tears rolling down her face, the brunette stunner continues: "I don't know what my life would be like without Pretty Little Liars. It has changed me, in more ways than I could attempt to count. ... The best seven years of my life have gone by the quickest."

"How lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard?" she says.
Pausing frequently to wipe away tears and catch her breath, Shay ends the message by thanking the fans."I am so thankful for all of the support that you guys have given me the past seven years, and I am excited to continue this journey with all of you.”

Watch the tearful good-bye below.

Watch the tearful good-bye below.

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