Leylah Fernandez is reigniting her competitive fire!
The talented player from Laval, Quebec, has advanced to the second round of the Japan Open.
Ranked 23rd globally, the Canadian sensation triumphed over Japan’s Himeno Sakatsume with a score of 6-4, 6-2 on Tuesday.
In just a little over 90 minutes, she overpowered the world’s 114th player.
The 24-year-old was effective, converting three out of nine break points throughout the match.
Following a strong run that saw her finish as a runner-up at the Ningbo Open last weekend, Fernandez is enjoying a fruitful Asian tour, having captured the Singapore Open title just last month.
Next up for her is the fifth-seeded Elise Mertens from Belgium, a player she recently defeated in a thrilling three-set match during the opening round of the Ningbo Open.
However, Fernandez has withdrawn from the doubles event on Tuesday due to an issue with her left arm, according to the official WTA draw.
Originally, she was set to partner with Spain’s Cristina Bucsa against the top seeds Gabriela Dabrowski of Ottawa and Luisa Stefani of Brazil, who advanced to the quarterfinals by walkover.
— with contributions from Sportsnet Staff
