Leylah Annie Fernandez has found a new gear at the Mutua Madrid Open as the former US Open finalist is back into a WTA 1000 quarter-final for the first time since 2024.
After needing to produce a comeback against 15th-seed Iva Jovic in round three, the Canadian No. 2 cruised in the round of 16, defeating No. 31 seed Ann Li 6-3, 6-2 on Monday.
Fernandez was aggressive again throughout the near 90-minute match and converted on three of her eight break points. For the first time in the event, the 23-year-old from Laval was perfect on serve, saving the only break points she faced when serving for the opening set.
Both players went back-and-forth in the winners count as part of a strong start to the contest, before Fernandez had her opening in the sixth game at 15-40. However, Li held her nerve to keep things balanced at 3-3.
The Canadian was clinical on her next opportunity later in the set. At 3-4, 30-40, Fernandez forced the loss of serve and earned the chance to serve for the opener, but the world No. 25 had to overcome some pressure, saving two break points prior to serving out the set.
Read also: Canada to face Brazil at Billie Jean King Cup Play-offs in November
Fernandez quickly made life difficult for the American to begin the second. The Lavalloise held four break points in Li’s first two service games, converting on the fourth to take a 2-1 edge in the set. Fernandez then confidently worked her way to a pair of tight holds, with both going to deuce, as she took a 4-2 lead.
In a repeat of the first, the Canuck broke late in the set, giving her the opportunity to serve for a spot in the quarters at 5-2. On match point, Fernandez watched Li’s return land wide as the former world No. 13 was through to her first Big Clay quarter-final since 2022 Roland-Garros.
Read also: Who Could Follow in Loïs Boisson’s Footsteps at Roland-Garros?
Fernandez will battle No. 9 seed Mirra Andreeva in the final eight on Tuesday.
Auger-Aliassime Downed in Straight Sets in Madrid Round Three
Félix Auger-Aliassime was upset by Alexander Blockx in the Mutua Madrid Open third round on Monday, losing 7-6(3), 6-3 to the world No. 69.
The third seed couldn’t get much of a hold on Blockx’s serve as the Belgian saved the lone break point he faced in the match and won 83 per cent of his first-serve points, including a run of 12-straight service points to book his ticket into the fourth round.
Despite some tight early service games, Auger-Aliassime was the only one to hold a break point in the set, powering a passing shot on the run at 30-all in the second game, but Blockx later served out the hold. The Montrealer nearly faced some pressure at 2-2, love-30, but the 25-year-old began to find his groove on serve as he won eight service points on the bounce for the 4-3 edge.
Read also: The King of Clay - Rafael Nadal’s Record-Breaking Reign on the Dirt
Auger-Aliassime and Blockx remained deadlocked until after the changeover in the tiebreaker, each winning 40 points up to that point. The change of ends seemed to benefit the Belgian as he won four-straight rallies to clinch the opening set.
The Canadian had a slight opening to score an early break in the first game of the second; however, from love-30, the world No. 5 conceded the next eight points and found himself down a break. Blockx coupled with a hold to extend his advantage to 3-0.
The world No. 69 then cruised on his delivery, not dropping a single service point the rest of the way, capping off the contest with his fifth ace on match point.
Next on the calendar for Auger-Aliassime is the Internazionali BNL d'Italia in Rome, where he reached the quarter-finals in 2022.
Feature Photo: Martin Sidorjak
