Leylah Annie Fernandez lost a tough opening-round matchup against former world No. 1 Naomi Osaka, falling 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 at the Wuhan Open on Tuesday.
The two once met in the 2021 US Open round of 32 during the Canadian’s run to the final.
Fernandez was solid on both serve and return in the opening set. The Canadian No. 2 held two break points in Osaka’s first two service games, breaking the Japanese in the fifth game to lead 3-2. On her delivery, Fernandez lost just three service points in the set as the 23-year-old held for the rest of the way after her break to take the opener 6-4.
In the second set, Osaka cracked down on Fernandez’s serve. The NBO finalist broke in the second game then held to take a 3-0 advantage.
At 3-1, the two players combined for three-straight breaks, but it was the Canadian who had the majority to cut the deficit to 3-4. She then managed to level the set after saving three break points in the eighth game to hold.
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At 5-5, 30-40, Fernandez was one point away from serving for the match, but Osaka saved break point and eventually held to put pressure on the Lavalloise. Fernandez went down love-40 in the twelfth game, and the world No. 27 couldn’t handle Osaka’s powerful return, sending the match to a decisive set.
In the third, Osaka matched her start to the second set, breaking in the second game and once again taking a 3-0 lead after a hold.
However, on this occasion, it was smooth sailing for the world No. 16 on serve, losing three points over her next three service games as she kept her lead intact. At 5-3, 40-15, Osaka’s backhand winner painted the baseline, sealing her first-career win in Wuhan.
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Fernandez still has doubles to play as the Canadian replaces Gabriela Dabrowski and teams with Kiwi Erin Routliffe to take on Irina Khromacheva and Aldila Sutjiadi in their opening match.
Feature Photo: Martin Sidorjak
