Leylah Annie Fernandez and Gabriela Dabrowski were both short of a Toray Pan Pacific Open Tennis trophy on Sunday.
Fernandez managed to force a decisive set in her battle for the title against Diana Shnaider, but the soon-to-be Canadian No. 1 couldn’t complete the comeback as she ultimately fell 6-4, 5-7, 6-2.
The 24-year-old from Laval piled most of the pressure throughout the match, holding 12 break points compared to her opponent’s eight. However, Shnaider was the more clinical of the two as she converted six of her opportunities, while Fernandez only capitalized on four. The Canadian found herself down a double break in each set and was able to recover from a 0-4 deficit in the second to extend the match, but Shnaider eventually sealed the title.
Fernandez’s delivery was put to the test right from the opening game as the Canadian had to save an early break point before holding after deuce three. Shnaider had another look not much later at 1-1, 30-40, and this time, she converted to go up a break.
With Shnaider on serve at 3-2, she soon took control of the set, winning eight-straight points and getting the chance to serve out the opener at 5-2.
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Fernandez wasn’t giving, though. The Lavalloise saved set point at 5-2, 40-30, and broke back, before holding at love to cut the deficit to 5-4. However, Shnaider held her nerve while serving for the set for the second time and put an end to Fernandez’s comeback bid.
In the second, it looked as if Shnaider was well on her way to securing the title after scoring back-to-back breaks, consolidated with a hold, to lead 4-0. Fernandez was able to cut into the deficit thanks to a break from 4-1, 15-40, but Shnaider still had an opportunity to serve for the championship at 5-4.
Fernandez showed her resilience once again as the world No. 23 broke in the tenth game, then won eight of the final ten balls to force a decisive set.
Unfortunately for the Canadian, she couldn’t crawl back again in the third. From 2-2, Fernandez was broken in her next two service games, giving Shnaider another chance to serve for the title at 5-2. On this occasion, the third seed closed out the set on the first try and claimed Tokyo silverware.
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Fernandez’s last stop of the year takes her to Hong Kong, with the Lavalloise looking for a third-straight final. She opens the WTA 250 event against Sofia Kenin on Tuesday.
Dabrowski, Stefani Bettered by Paolini, Errani in Tokyo Final
Gabriela Dabrowski and Luisa Stefani couldn’t repeat against Jasmine Paolini and Sara Errani, losing 6-2, 6-2 in the Tokyo doubles final on Sunday.
The Canadian-Brazilian team defeated the Italian duo in a tight two-setter en route to their Beijing title in early October, but Paolini and Errani flipped the script in the Japanese capital. The Italians didn’t face a single break point in the match and converted four of nine break points before stepping into the winner’s circle.
Each set virtually followed the exact same trend as Dabrowski and Stefani were broken in the third game in both the first and second, trailing 3-1 after Errani and Paolini consolidated on each occasion.
Dabrowski and Stefani did face most of the pressure in the opener, though, saving four of five break points before their opponents eventually served out the set. In the second, Errani and Paolini needed just one break opportunity at 2-4, 15-40, to get the fortune of serving for the championship. The Italians gained double match point and sealed the contest on the first try, spoiling Dabrowski and Stefani’s search for a fourth-straight title.
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The Canadian-Brazilian pair will have their sights set on a WTA Finals triumph soon, with the year-end championships beginning on Nov. 8 in Indian Wells.
Feature Photo: Jimmie48 Tennis Photography
