After surviving the qualifying rounds, Leylah Annie Fernandez found her way to the final in Acapulco without dropping a single set.
In the semis, the Quebecer faced the daunting task of contending with crowd favourite Renata Zarazua of Mexico, who showed top seed Sloane Stephens the door in the first round. On Friday night, Fernandez gained the upper hand to claim a two-set victory (6-3, 6-3).
Though the match got underway with four break points, the Canadian managed to find her consistency and capitalize on her rival’s errors. After two double faults, she finally broke Zarazua in the eighth game. Serving at 5-3, Fernandez converted her second set point when Zarazua hit an unforced error on her forehand.
1️⃣1️⃣ set in a row in Acapulco for @leylahfernandez!
The 17-year-old takes the first 6-3.#AMT2020 pic.twitter.com/8tnYK48EXh
— wta (@WTA) February 29, 2020
In the second set, while Zarazua seemed to be losing her composure, Fernandez secured the first break in the third game. Determined to compete in her very first WTA final, she kept the momentum going and relied on her brilliant winners and returns to earn a two-break lead.
With the crowd behind her, Zarazua tried her best to stay in the match, but it was too little too late. Just as she had in the first set, she hit two consecutive double faults that ultimately helped the Canadian seal the win.
FIRST WTA FINAL! 🙌@leylahfernandez becomes the youngest finalist in Acapulco as she defeats Mexican Renata Zarazua 6-3, 6-3.#AMT2020 | 🎥: @WTA
— Tennis Canada (@TennisCanada) February 29, 2020
Sharon Fichman in the final
In doubles, Sharon Fichman and Kateryna Bondarenko also qualified for the final. Teaming up for a second time this season, the duo ousted third seeds Ellen Perez and Storm Sanders of Australia in two straightforward sets (6-3, 6-4).
FINALS BOUND 🙌@sharon_fichman and partner Kateryna Bondarenko defeat Storm Sanders and Ellen Perez 6-3, 6-4 to reach @AbiertoTelcel final.#AMT2020 pic.twitter.com/FBOMA8arDy
— Tennis Canada (@TennisCanada) February 29, 2020
In her first final of 2020, Fichman will go for broke to capture her first title since July 2019, when she took the top honours in Latvia with Nina Stojanovic.
Heart-wrenching defeat for Gabriela Dabrowski in Doha
Earlier today, in the Qatar Open final, Gabriela Dabrowski and Jelena Ostapenko battled Hsieh Su-wei and Barbora Strycova but were unable to overpower the top-seeded team, who collected the title at the outcome of their three-set clash (6-2, 5-7, 10-2).
The moment of victory!
.@BaraStrycova and Hsieh Su-wei beat Dabrowski and Ostapenko 6-2, 5-7, 10-2 to become the 1st team to achieve the Middle East sweep in the same season since @lisaraymond73 and Liezel Huber in 2012. pic.twitter.com/MlZfSti7Ki
— wta (@WTA) February 28, 2020
Even so, it was an incredible week for Dabrowski and Ostapenko, who dismissed the tournament’s third and second seeds.
(Feature photo: Abierto Mexicano Telcel)
