Leylah Fernandez plays luck

The package of the number 1 in world women’s tennis, Poland’s Iga Swiatek, benefited Quebec’s Leylah Annie Fernandez, who took her place at the top of the main draw of the Madrid tournament to start on Thursday.

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While Swiatek rests to treat a right arm injury, Fernandez will play on Madrid soil as 17^e first in the series. In the first round, she will face the German Andrea Petkovic. The latter comes from the qualifications and occupies the 64^e rank in the WTA World Rankings.

A victory for Fernandez once morest the 34-year-old athlete might earn her in the next round a duel with the Czech Petra Kvitova or the Swiss Jil Teichmann, respectively 30^e et 35^e in the world. Initially, the Maple Leaf player was to face Russia’s Daria Kasatkina, 24^e WTA Tour racket.

For her part, Ontario’s Bianca Andreescu (111^e) will face the American Alison Riske (42^e) from the outset.

The Spanish competition takes place on clay and is one of the main tournaments preceding the French Open, scheduled for May 22-June 5.