Leylah Annie Fernandez had her toughest test of the Mutua Madrid Open, but was unable to keep her impressive run going as the 23-year-old from Laval lost 7-6(1), 6-3 to No. 9 seed Mirra Andreeva in the quarter-finals on Tuesday.
Fernandez defeated two seeds en route to her third-career clash with Andreeva, taking down Iva Jovic (No. 15) and Ann Li (No. 31).
Despite being second in the WTA in break points saved, the Canadian No. 2 was outdone on that front in the quarters. Andreeva was faced with a hefty 15 break points but saved 12, three of which came on set point with Fernandez looking to clinch the opener. The Canuck was broken four times on ten break points and struggled with her delivery, winning just 53 per cent of her first-serve points and committing five double faults.
Fernandez had the better of the two starts to the match, keeping up her remarkable play in the Spanish capital. The Lavalloise held three break points in Andreeva’s opening service game but had to wait till the fourth game to break, forcing the loss of serve on the first try at 1-2, love-40. The world No. 25 then dug herself out of a love-30 hole in the ensuing game to consolidate the break and lead 4-1.
However, Andreeva began her push, dropping only one of the next nine points to cut her deficit to 3-4. The world No. 8 then fended off two more break points before backing up the loss of serve and tying the set at four apiece.
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Both players managed to hold their nerve late in the first as Fernandez saved four break points starting from 5-5, love-40, to put the pressure on Andreeva to serve to extend the set. The Canadian had three set points in the final game but couldn’t close out the opener.
The tiebreaker was all Andreeva who led off with a mini-break. At 3-0, the 18-year-old conceded her first and only point as she responded with four-straight to take a one-set lead.
To start the second, neither player held in their first two service games. With Fernandez serving up a break in the fourth game, the Canuck hit a bump as she went on to lose the next eight rallies before ending the skid with a confident hold to even the set at 3-3.
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In the ensuing game, Fernandez had the chance to regain her advantage with double break point at 15-40, but Andreeva served well to secure the hold. A double fault at 3-4, 15-30, put the Canadian under some pressure and Andreeva found her spot to go on the attack, powering a backhand winner to score the crucial break.
The world No. 8 served for the match, where a fearless Fernandez drop shot saved a first match point, but Andreeva closed out the contest later in the game to reach the semifinals in Madrid.
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Feature Photo: Martin Sidorjak
