(Hong Kong) Quebecer Leylah Fernandez won the third title of her career on Sunday, beating Kateřina Siniaková 3-6, 6-4 and 6-4 in the final of the Hong Kong Open, a WTA 250 level tournament.
The 21-year-old from Laval thus obtained her first title of the season, her first since March 2022.
Finalist at Flushing Meadows in 2021, Fernandez started the tournament at 60e rank in the world rankings. This victory will bring her back into the top 50.
En route to this victory in the final in Hong Kong, she also defeated the Belarusian Victoria Azarenka, the Russian Mirra Andreeva, the Czech Linda Fruhvirtová and the Russian Anna Blinkova. Fernandez collected his other trophies in Monterrey, Mexico, in 2021 and 2022.
It’s been very difficult for several years. My family, my parents, my coach and my trainer stayed by my side.
Leylah Fernandez, quoted by the WTA website
“They motivated me to continue, and now it’s paying off.” Let’s hope it continues like this. »
Siniaková, a 27-year-old Czech who was crowned in July in Bad Homburg, Germany, scored two breaks in the first set while putting constant pressure on Fernandez’s serve.
The Canadian fought back by taking a 4-0 lead in the second set. Thanks to her excellent defense, Fernandez was able to take advantage of her rival’s numerous errors.
Siniaková did better after a medical timeout – she emerged with tape on her upper left leg. But at 4-3, Fernandez held his serve after saving six break points.
In the last set, the Canadian went to the depths of her resources, even giving herself three break points to get the 3-0. But Siniaková held on, erasing these break points to stay just one break behind her rival. A chaotic mid-set saw four consecutive breaks of serve, with Siniaková catching Fernandez each time, first at 3-3, then at 4-4.
Except that the last break achieved by Fernandez gave her priority 5-4, before the Quebecer confirmed her title in 2 h 49 min.
Dabrowski and Routliffe win in Zhengzhou
Canadian Gabriela Dabrowski and New Zealander Erin Routliffe also won the doubles title at the Zhengzhou Open in China, beating Japanese Shuko Aoyama and Eno Shibahara 6-2, 6-4.
Defending champions in New York, Dabrowski and Routliffe allowed only 10 points on serve, in addition to managing four breaks.
Routliffe grew up in Ontario. Since the duo began teaming up in August, Routliffe and Dabrowski have reached three finals and triumphed twice.
Dabrowski has 15 doubles titles, 10 more than Routliffe.
Diallo wins in Bratislava
In a good day for Canadian tennis, Quebecer Gabriel Diallo won the Bratislava Open, in Slovakia, on the ATP Challenger circuit.
Diallo defeated Belgian Joris De Loore in the final 6-0, 7-5.
This 125 category title is certainly the most prestigious obtained to date by Diallo. It adds to those won at the M25 East Lansing and the Granby National Bank Challenger in 2022, as well as the $25,000 ITF tournament in his hometown of Montreal last March.
