Monday, August 8, 2022. 11:25 PM
(Update : Monday, August 8, 2022. 11:25 PM)
Back on the court for the first time in two months, Canada’s Leylah Fernandez didn’t let rust spoil her comeback. -3 once morest qualified player Storm Sanders in her first match at the National Bank Open in Toronto.
With the win, Fernandez reached the second round of the tournament’s main draw for the first time in his career. She had been eliminated in her first match in 2019 and 2021.
“I have no words, I am in shock! I’m so happy, I can’t express my feelings right now. I can only say that I am happy to be able to play here, in front of my crowd in Toronto, in front of my family,” commented Fernandez following the game.
Fernandez had missed the last months of activity due to a grade 3 fracture in the right foot, suffered at Roland-Garros. His return to the game was not the most restful, once morest an opponent who was constantly tough.
“I thought of the sacrifices that [mes proches] did for me and I wanted to fight and stay in the game, hoping to get out of here with a win. I watched them during the match and they gave me motivation, strength and above all, confidence. »
13e The tournament’s seeded Fernandez faced strong opposition from her Australian opponent in the opening round. Unable to break her opponent, Fernandez fumbled the first four break points she got, including three on the 8e sleeve game.
Fernandez had to take advantage of a gap from Sanders on serve to finally make his first break. Leading 5-4 in the first set, it was thanks to a double fault from Sanders that she managed to break it for the first time and won the first set.
But from the start of the second set, Sanders made sure to stop the bleeding and broke Fernandez in the first game. The Canadian then broke in the 4th game of the second set.
Fernandez continued to attack Sanders and she got her first chance to end the game in game 10 when she was up 5-4. On Sanders’ serve, Fernandez got two match points, but she was unable to convert them.
The tiebreaker was needed and Fernandez quickly trailed 4-1. Facing a tough Sanders who refused to give up, Fernandez was unable to overcome that deficit and she saw Sanders force a final round.
“It was definitely a very good game. Storm played a great game. We don’t often play once morest left-handers, so I’m very happy to have been able to face him. I’m sure she will have several good matches and I hope we can see her on the big stages as well,” admitted the Canadian.
Fernandez led the first big attack of the ultimate round in 5e game when she recorded the first break of service of the set to settle in the driver’s seat.
Fernandez also doubled down on her serve, as Sanders was insistent on recovering a break. Leylah saved three break points in the 8e game of the set to keep his service.
And as in the first set, it was on Sanders’ serve that Fernandez capitalized to win the round. Fernandez smashed Sanders to knock him out and reach the next round following a tough battle.
In the next round, Fernandez will face Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia, who beat Martina Trevisan in three sets of 6-2, 2-6, 6-2 in her first match.
Sebov lowers flag
The other Canadian in action in Toronto on Monday, Katherine Sebov, was unable to reach the next round and lost in three sets of 6-3, 2-6 and 5-7 once morest the Kazakh Yulia Putintseva.
The game started well for Sebov, the 499th player in the world, who won the first set to take the lead. Sebov however conceded the second set to his opponent and a final round was needed.
Trailing 6-5 in the 3rd set, Sebov put up a good fight and she saved three match points while serving. Facing the 46th player in the world, however, Sebov ran out of solutions and the 4th chance was good for Putintseva, who broke Sebov and won the final set 7-5.
Tuesday Bianca Andreescu, Carol Zhao and Rebecca Marino will take to the field for their first matches of the tournament.
