Leylah Annie Fernandez’s WTA 1000 season came to an end in the Wuhan Open third round on Thursday. The 24-year-old from Laval fell short of a comeback against world No. 34 Jelena Ostapenko, losing 6-1, 1-6, 6-4.
The Canadian No. 2 was under significant stress on serve during the nearly two-hour match, coming up against 17 break points but managing to save 12. Fernandez went through the second set without facing break point, while converting on three of her five opportunities, and capitalized on her only break point in the third, but Ostapenko broke right back as she ultimately served out the match.
This was Fernandez and Ostapenko’s first meeting since 2021 Wimbledon, with the Latvian holding a 2-0 advantage in the head-to-head.
Ostapenko’s efficiency on break point put Fernandez in a tough spot early in the opening set. The former Roland-Garros champion broke at 30-40 in both the third and fifth game to lead 4-1, before holding two set points in her very next return game at 1-5, 15-40. Fernandez saved the first but dropped the opener on the second attempt.
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However, the start of the match ended up being a tale of two sets. Fernandez broke from 1-1, love-40, to hold the early edge in the second. Then, the Lavalloise returned the favour by breaking at 30-40 in her next two return games, including on set point at 1-5, as she strung together three-straight breaks of her own to send the match to the distance.
Ostapenko was back at it in the decisive set, though. The Latvian held an early triple break point at 1-1, love-40, but Fernandez was able to escape unscathed.
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However, the immense pressure later got to the Canadian as Fernandez fought off six break points in the fifth game but eventually lost serve on a seventh. Ostapenko then held at love to extend her advantage to 4-2.
Despite Fernandez responding with a break at 4-3, she was unable to consolidate as Ostapenko had the chance to serve for the match at 5-4. The Latvian needed just one match point to punch her ticket into the Wuhan quarters.
Fernandez fell short of a second WTA 1000 quarter-final this season, which still stands as her best result at the level. The Canadian still has a title to defend before the end of the year at next week’s WTA 250 in Osaka.
Feature Photo: Martin Sidorjak
