Fans were excited about a planned exhibition match between Coco Gauff and Leylah Fernandez, but it has been canceled because the Canadian did not recover in time from an injury.
Fernandez's last appearance was at the 2022 French Open. She reached the quarterfinal at Roland-Garros, but an injury badly hampered her match against Martina Trevisan.
Last year's US Open runner-up sustained a foot injury during her quarterfinal clash with Trevisan. Incredibly, Fernandez still finished the match and took the contest to a third set, but she ultimately lost.
Fernandez missed the entire grass-court season, but she had hoped to be ready for the start of the North American hard-court swing. That would have started with an exhibition match against Gauff in Atlanta.
Unfortunately, the 19-year-old's foot is still not in a place where she can compete. Fernandez announced the news on social media, confirming that her doctor told her not to play in the exhibition match.
"Hey, guys. So I just wanted to give you a quick update. While my foot is recovering, I am following my doctor's orders, which are that I will not be able to compete for the next coming week. So, I'm very, very sad to say that I will not be in Atlanta."
"And even though it's heartbreaking for me, I hope that everyone — the fans and the players — will enjoy their time at the tournament and I want to wish Coco good luck. Bye. See you next time."
Gauff is looking to respond to a disappointing Wimbledon campaign during the North American hardcourt season. Her compatriot Amanda Anisimova knocked her out in the third round at Wimbledon.
The 18-year-old will have high hopes for the upcoming hardcourt tournaments on home soil. However, she will not start with an exhibition match against Fernandez.