Having watched both Félix Auger-Aliassime and Steven Diez bow out in earlier matches, Canadian tennis fans will have been delighted at this comeback, 1-6, 6-2, 6-3 victory from Leylah Annie Fernandez in the first round of the French Open.
At just 18-years-old, the youngster’s win over Magda Linette of Poland represents her second in a Grand Slam main draw. And she did it all from a set down having lost the first by a large margin.
What’s truly remarkable about this win is that, facing a player ranked 64 places above her in the WTA rankings – Fernandez is No. 100 and Linette is No. 36 – the Canadian didn’t lose any confidence after a poor first-set showing.
In fact, she dusted herself down and broke Linette on the very first game of the second set – and again to make it 5-2 – proving to the veteran that this 18-year-old wasn’t going anywhere.
Fernandez rode her well-earned momentum into the third set and went up a double break, taking what looked like an unassailable 4-0 lead. It proved to be insurmountable for Linette, despite her breaking back twice, as Fernandez showed the poise of a player 10 years her senior to seal her passage through to round two.
Waiting for Fernandez in the next round is Polona Hercog of Slovenia, who beat France’s Diane Parry 6-4, 6-2 in her opening match of the tournament.
