Leylah Annie Fernandez kicked off the busy slate of Canadians in action at the Miami Open presented by Itaú on Saturday.
The Canadian No. 2 was able to work her way past fellow lefty Oksana Selekhmeteva, winning 7-6(1), 3-6, 6-1 in the second round.
The match was very similar to Fernandez’s opening match against Katerina Siniakova in Indian Wells a few weeks ago. Both players held a combined 23 break points in the match, but the Canuck was more efficient, converting on five of her ten. Fernandez only managed to win one second-serve point in the second set but turned things around in the decider, winning over half of those points while saving five break points en route to the win.
After losing the opening rally of the match, Fernandez didn’t take long to quickly pull away in the set. The 23-year-old won 12 of the next 13 points, securing the early break and holding to love to take swift 3-0 advantage.
At 3-1, 40-love, Fernandez looked to earn another comfortable hold but instead, the Canadian ran into some pressure. The world No. 25 committed two double faults in the game and was unable to deal with some strong returning from Selekhmeteva as the world No. 71 converted on her third break point. Selekhmeteva then held to love to complete the mini-comeback at 3-3.
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Fernandez was broken again in the seventh game, but she soon regained her lead. The Lavalloise broke back from 40-love in the next game and even held set point on return at 4-5, 30-40. However, Selekhmeteva saved as both players strung together some holds on their way to the tiebreaker.
Fernandez was covering all areas of the court to begin the tiebreak, mounting a commanding 6-1 lead. With her second set point, the Canuck converted to clinch the tight opener.
The flurry of breaks returned to begin the second set. After Selekhmeteva saved two break opportunities in the opening game, there wasn’t another service hold till the fifth when the world No. 71 increased her edge to 4-1.
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Selekhmeteva conceded just one point on her delivery the rest of the way, forcing a decisive set.
Fernandez made the crucial first move in the decider, breaking in the second game, but had to hold her nerve on her delivery, fending off five break points over her next two service games to maintain a 4-1 lead.
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Another break in the sixth game set Fernandez up to serve for the match at 5-1. The Canadian quickly gained three chances to seal the contest at 40-love, soon booking her spot into the third round in Miami for the third-straight year.
Fernandez sets up a clash against world No. 5 Jessica Pegula in the round of 32.
[10] Victoria Mboko (CAN) vs Anastasia Zakharova
Feature Photo: Sarah-Jade Champagne
