Pan Pacific Open: Canadian rot stopped as Andreescu and Fernandez open accounts in Tokyo

Canadian duo Bianca Andreescu and Leylah Fernandez have stopped respective rots that have set in during recent months coming through tough ties to reach the second round of the Pan Pacific Open on Monday.

Andreescu trailed World No.410 Mei Yamaguchi 3-1 in the first set before she battled back to a 7-5, 6-3. This after Fernandez advanced when lucky loser Aliaksandra Sasnovich was forced to retire trailing 5-7, 6-2, 5-2.

She struggled with difficulty breathing and Fernandez claimed her first win for a number of months. She has struggled previously with claiming victories on the tour barely winning a game since a Quarter-Final in Cincinnati back in August.

Andreescu hadn't won since July. A knee injury sidelined Andreescu between the US Open and after a poor Olympic Games, she suddenly was shot and low on confidence. She lost to Greet Minnen last week in Osaka and had not won since said Olympic Games back in July. Yamaguchi was playing her first ever main draw and raced out of the blocks taking a 3-1 lead with 19 winners overall. Andreescu found her range finally and reeled off the last three games of the first set. However Andreescu still battled hard through breaks and deuce tussles in the second set as she went on to seal the win.

Next is Beatriz Haddad Maia which will be a real test of her metal for a spot in the third round. Veronika Kudermetova, the defending champion elsewhere was defeated by Viktoriya Tomova.