Leylah Annie Fernandez came up short of her first WTA 1000 fourth-round appearance of 2025, losing a tight battle against world No. 3 Coco Gauff 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 in the China Open third round on Sunday.
Fernandez fell to 0-3 against Gauff this year with her two previous losses coming at the Australian Open and United Cup.
The Canadian didn’t let many break points go to waste in the match, converting on seven of ten. Four of those breaks came in the decisive set where Fernandez erased a 2-5 deficit but was unable to fully complete the turnaround. Gauff converted eight of her 17 break points on the day.
The Lavalloise had no answer for Gauff’s delivery early on as Fernandez didn’t win a single return point in the American’s opening two service games. At 2-2, love-40, Gauff held the match’s first break point and converted on the second attempt to take advantage of the set.
Fernandez cracked the code on the Atlantan’s serve and managed to break at 3-4 to even the match, but the Canadian No. 2 was broken back before Gauff served out the first set.
Read also: Mboko Lets Leads Slip in China Open Round Two Loss
Both players traded breaks to begin the third as Fernandez had to fend off some more pressure midway through the set. At 2-2, the world No. 25 saved three break points and eventually held after a four-deuce game.
At 4-5, 30-all, the Canadian played some brilliant defence before Gauff fired her backhand into the net, giving Fernandez the opportunity to force a decisive set. With break and set point, the Lavalloise’s forehand was too much for the American to handle and the match was going the distance.
The third was a break frenzy to say the least. The set’s first hold came in the sixth game as Gauff broke the streak of breaks to lead 4-2.
Fernandez continued to struggle on her delivery though as the Canadian was once again broken in the ensuing game, allowing her opponent to serve for the match with a commanding 5-2 advantage.
However, Fernandez saved match point at 40-30 then managed to break Gauff two-straight times as part of her comeback, levelling the contest at 5-5.
Read also: “Stronger Together” Theme Resonates at 2025 UNMATCHED Conference
But the Canuck’s run ended there as Fernandez was broken back before Gauff held three match points at 6-5, 40-love, and the American capitalized on the second try to cap off the nearly three-hour match.
The Canadians will be in China again next month for the WTA 1000 Wuhan Open.
Feature Photo: Frederic Cote
