In a thrilling second-round match at the Japan Open, Canada’s Leylah Fernandez triumphed over fifth-seeded Elise Mertens from Belgium with a score of 6-2, 7-6 (8).
Hailing from Laval, Quebec, Fernandez surged ahead to a 4-1 lead in the second set, but Mertens rallied in a determined bid to turn the tide on Thursday morning in Tokyo.
Though she slipped and allowed Mertens to capture the next two games, Fernandez fought back to make it 5-3, only to find herself on the receiving end of another two-game streak from her opponent.
The tiebreak showcased a dramatic back-and-forth, with Mertens initially leading 3-0 before Fernandez rallied to even the score with three consecutive points.
As the tension escalated, Mertens gained an 8-7 advantage, but Fernandez displayed her resilience by claiming the last three points to clinch her victory.
Despite struggling with three double faults and not scoring any aces, Fernandez proved effective by converting four out of 11 break-point chances.
