Leylah Annie Fernandez’s WTA 1000 China Open run came to an end in her opening match following a 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 loss to Kamilla Rakhimova on Saturday.
The 24-year-old from Laval struggled to find much rhythm on serve, which caused her to face 11 break points on the day, losing serve twice in both the first and third set. Fernandez’s best start came in the second, when the Canadian No. 2 broke in her opening return game before fighting off Rakhimova’s response to ultimately close out the set.
Fernandez couldn’t build off her strong first week in Asia, hoisting the Singapore trophy to kickstart the swing.
The opening set quickly got away from the Lavalloise in Beijing. She was broken at love right out of the gates and let a couple chances to reply slip away as Rakhimova managed to hold from love-30 in her first two service games to take the 3-1 lead.
The Uzbek continued her fiery start, holding another break point at 1-3, 30-40. Rakhimova unleashed a forehand winner crosscourt, one of her 37 winners of the match, to increase her edge to 4-1. The world No. 76 comfortably held the rest of the way to wrap up the opener in a little over half an hour.
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Fernandez responded well in the second, though. The Canadian broke early on this occasion, forcing the loss of serve in the second game before saving break point to gain a 3-0 hold of the set.
However, Rakhimova kept piling the pressure. The Uzbek was unable to break from 3-1, 15-40, but didn’t let another opportunity go to waste as she broke on the first try at 4-2, 15-40. She consolidated to even the set at 4-4.
Fernandez then put some stress on Rakhimova in the crucial parts of the second. With the Canuck on return, 4-5, love-30, soon turned into set point at 30-40. The Singapore champion gladly watched Rakhimova’s forehand sail long as the match went the distance.
Both players made their opponent work for the break in the hour-long third set. Fernandez had the first opportunities, holding two break points but Rakhimova was able to come out unscathed and secure the hold after deuce four. In the ensuing game, the Uzbek held break point after each deuce and capitalized on the second to take the advantage, up 3-2.
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Rakhimova eased her way through another deuce game to extend her lead to 4-2, and that was the toughest test she faced on serve the rest of the way. The world No. 76 looked to seal the contest on return at 3-5, holding match point after deuce two, but Fernandez stayed alive. Deuce three proved to be the charm as Rakhimova gained a second match point and converted to clinch a spot into the third round in Beijing.
Denis Shapovalov is now the lone Canadian alive in singles this week. The Richmond Hillian battles former world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz in the Tokyo quarter-finals Saturday night.
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Photo Vedette: Martin Sidorjak
