Leylah Annie Fernandez just seems to have Mirra Andreeva’s number on the concrete.
The Canadian No. 2 defeated Andreeva for the second-straight time, following her impressive win in the National Bank Open presented by Rogers third round last August. This time, Fernandez’s victory came in the Singapore Tennis Open quarter-finals on Friday by a score of 6-2, 7-5.
The 24-year-old from Laval piled the pressure on Andreeva’s delivery throughout the match, converting on six of 11 break points. The win took Fernandez in front in their head-to-head, taking three of their five-career meetings, with the Canadian winning every hard-court encounter.
Fernandez was the beneficiary of a nervy start by each player on serve. After the Lavalloise saved two break points in the third game, both women combined for back-to-back-to-back breaks before Fernandez managed to put an end to the frenzy and hold to take a 5-2 lead. However, Andreeva’s service struggles continued as the world No. 5 was broken on the third try from 2-5, love-40, to hand Fernandez the opening set.
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The Canadian got off to a similar start in the second. The 24-year-old lost serve in the third game but responded with two-consecutive breaks as she held the 4-2 edge in the set.
Fernandez had the opportunity to close out the match earlier than she did, on serve at 5-3, but Andreeva wouldn’t go away as the Roland-Garros champion broke, then consolidated to stay alive in the contest.
Another opening soon came Fernandez’s way, though. Returning at 5-6, the world No. 31 watched Andreeva’s second delivery sail long at 15-30, gifting Fernandez match point. The Canuck moved Andreeva around during the next rally before her opponent’s forehand eventually found the net, sending the former world No. 13 through to her first semifinal of the year.
Fernandez’s next test is Roland-Garros finalist Maja Chwalinska on Saturday.
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Feature Photo: Martin Sidorjak
