(Melbourne) Canadian Leylah Annie Fernandez lost in two sets in the first round of the Australian Open on Tuesday.
The Indonesian Janice Tjen had the upper hand 6-2 and 7-6 (1), thanks in particular to four breaks.
Ranked 59e in the world, she prevailed in one hour and 45 minutes ahead of the Quebecer, 23e at the WTA.
Tjen ruled the roost in breaking the deadlock, first with a nice uncrossed forehand.
PHOTO DAVID GRAY, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Janice Tjen
She took a 2-0 lead when Fernandez sent a serve return into the net.
Then, it was a smooth backhand passing that brought the score to 3-0.
Tjen then committed a direct error, but she regained control with a double fault from her rival and an ace from her.
Fernandez hit a ball too far and then committed another unforced error, giving the opponent the victory.
Tjen’s next rival will be Karolina Pliskova or Sloane Stephens.
In the first set, Tjen took the lead 5-2 with his second break of the match.
Fernandez led 40-30 in the next game, but a ball too far and two sent into the net gave Tjen the set.
In the first game of the second set, Fernandez shrugged off a double fault and held serve, but the Indonesian won the next three games.
The Laval player had some great moments in the fifth game: she only allowed one point, taking the game away on a too-deep shot from Tjen.
Fernandez was also solid in the next play – notably a ball sequence on the baseline – winning drop shot. A crosscourt forehand earned him the tie at 3-3, thanks to a break.
PHOTO DAR YASIN, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Leylah Annie Fernandez
Fernandez continued her momentum one more game, but Tjen held serve for 4-4, then took a 5-4 lead with a break.
It was then Fernandez who broke, bringing everyone back to square one.
At 11e game, Fernandez distinguished herself with a crosscourt backhand and an uncrossed forehand, en route to a 6-5 lead.
A smash from Tjen and an unforced error from Fernandez, however, made the score 6-6, forcing the deadlock to be broken.
Fernandez only won 56% of the points contested on his first serves, compared to 74% for Tjen.
It was a 50e Grand Slam match for Fernandez, finalist at Flushing Meadows in 2021.
She remains in the doubles table alongside Timea Babos of Hungary.
In doubles, Canadian Victoria Mboko and American Iva Jovic prevailed 7-5, 6-3 against Norwegian Ulrikke Eikeri and Estonian Ingrid Neel.
