(Auckland) Leylah Annie Fernandez started her 2023 season with an emphatic 6-1, 6-1 win over Brenda Fruhvirtova on Monday in the first round of the ASB Tennis Classic played in Auckland, New Zealand.

The Quebecer, seeded third in the tournament, needed only 61 minutes to sweep the 15-year-old Czech teenager.

Fernandez had taken the measure of three players in the world’s top-5, including defending champion Naomi Osaka, en route to a participation in the final of the United States Open in 2021. She then lowered the flag to the Briton Emma Raducanu, who also participates in the Auckland tournament.

The 20-year-old Lavalloise admitted that life had been difficult since her appearance in the final at Flushing Meadows, due to the excessive expectations placed on her.

“It’s been more difficult mentally and emotionally, because you don’t know what the future will hold for you. You catch yourself having big dreams, then suddenly you stumble and you feel like you won’t get up again,” she mentioned.

“I try not to think about the past anymore, to focus on the present and to keep improving,” continued Fernandez. One of my goals is to be more consistent, to go further in tournaments on a regular basis, and to always keep my physical, mental and game state in mind.”

Earlier on Monday, China’s Zhu Lin upset American Madison Brengle 4-6, 7-6, 6-4 in a match that went on for almost four hours due to numerous rain-induced interruptions .

Lin will face Venus Williams in the next round, who finally scored a singles victory on her record.

The 42-year-old defeated Katie Volynets 7-6(4) 6-2. It was his first singles victory since Wimbledon in 2021.

The holder of seven career Grand Slam titles earned a bye to the Australian Open main draw.

Williams snapped a nine-game losing streak on the WTA Tour that began two years ago. She went 0-4 in singles action last season.