The 19-year-old, who celebrated her birthday on Monday, beat the fifth-placed Ukrainian 6-3, 3-6, 6-6, to become the youngest semifinalist at the U.S. Open since Maria Sharapova in 2005.
Victory over Svitolina is another featherweight cap for Fernandez in this incredible race, with Canadian champion Naomi Osaka reigning champion and 2016 winner Angelique Kerber.
“Today’s match has definitely been one of the toughest, not only in terms of tennis, but also mentally and emotionally,” Fernandez told reporters.
“Svitolina is a great player, a great fighter. I was glad she could fight in the first set. In the second set, she increased the level and unfortunately I made some mistakes in the key moments.
“I’m glad I was able to recover for the third set. The tiebreaker too. A little luck at five, but I’ll take all the luck I can get. I was glad I was able to get ahead. The goal.”
Fernandez has become a favorite of Flushing Meadows fans during her career and fans inside Arthur Ashe were once again audible behind her.
The youngster showed a remarkable balance for someone so inexperienced in what was a tense match, and won the final two points (the first of which was a somewhat fortuitous net rope) in the decisive tie break.
When he returned to the locker room, Fernandez said the first thing he did was call his father.
“Honestly, he told me I went through hell and with that match,” he laughed.
“But he’s very happy for me. He’s happy to be able to fight for every point, he deserved that victory. Keep working, enjoy that victory today and tomorrow we’ll get back to work.”
Canadian men also made history at Flushing Meadows
However, the career of fellow teenager Carlos Alcaraz at the US Open ended abruptly with the Spaniard forced to retire injured from his quarter-final against Felix Auger-Aliassime.
Alcaraz said after the match that it was his right adductor who forced his early retirement from what he had promised to be an exciting showdown between two of tennis’s best rising talents.
Auger-Aliassime led 6-3, 3-1 when Alcaraz retired and became the first male player born in the 2000s to reach a grand slam semifinal.
At just 21, he also becomes the first Canadian male player in history to reach the semifinals of the American Open.