Leylah Fernandez Triumphs Over Top 10 Rival at Canadian Open
Fernandez Breaks Losing Streak Against Top 10 Players
File image of Leylah Fernandez(Photo: @GOsisike/X)
Montreal, Aug 8: Leylah Fernandez, the 2021 US Open finalist, has successfully ended her seven-match losing streak against Top 10 players by defeating Roland Garros champion Mirra Andreeva in the third round of the WTA Canadian Open.
Entering the match as the 30th seed, Fernandez showcased her skills by defeating the fifth-seeded Andreeva, achieving her best result at this prestigious event. This victory sets her up for a Round of 16 encounter against Naomi Osaka, the 11th seed, who triumphed over 20th seed Elise Mertens with a score of 6-1, 6-4.
Fernandez dominated the match, winning 6-1, 6-4 in just 1 hour and 21 minutes. This win not only advances her to the Round of 16 in Toronto but also marks her first victory against a Top 10 opponent in over a year. Her last win against a player of Andreeva's caliber was against then-World No. 4 Jessica Pegula during her Mubadala DC Open victory last year.
Fernandez maintained control against an inconsistent Andreeva, leading 6-1, 5-1, before the 20-year-old began to rally, closing the gap to 5-4. However, a crucial forehand error from Andreeva at 0-15 during Fernandez's serve at 5-4 shifted the momentum back, allowing the Canadian to secure the match shortly after.
"The key for me was to stay positive, stay strong, and to keep being patient. I mean, she wasn't going to give away some easy balls," Fernandez reflected post-match. "In the beginning, there were a lot of long rallies, and that was crucial for me to trust in my abilities and continue playing my game throughout the match."
The match statistics supported Fernandez's approach, with Andreeva committing 19 unforced errors in the first set and a total of 34 throughout the match, which was double her 17 winners. In contrast, Fernandez recorded eight winners and only seven unforced errors.
"I kept telling myself to just put the ball back in play. I've trained extensively to be consistent and to hit a hundred balls in a row, aiming for a series where neither of us misses," she added. "There have been moments when I wanted to finish points quickly, but I reminded myself to trust my abilities and my fitness. I know I can endure long rallies, so if it takes a hundred balls to break her down, then that's what I'll do."
Fernandez now faces Naomi Osaka, the 2025 National Bank Open finalist, who defeated Elise Mertens 6-1, 6-2. The two players have faced each other twice on the WTA Tour, with each winning one match, Osaka taking the most recent encounter in 2025.
Osaka noted that facing a left-handed player like Fernandez presents unique challenges, particularly with her serve, drawing comparisons to former World No. 1 Petra Kvitova. She also praised Fernandez's calm demeanor throughout the match.