Leylah Fernandez advances with ease, sets up quarterfinal clash with Sofia Kenin at Guadalajara Open

Thursday, 21 September 2023 at 01:42

Leylah Fernandez had no trouble defeating Emma Navarro 6-2, 6-3, securing her spot in the quarterfinals of the Guadalajara Open, where she will face Sofia Kenin.

The Canadian continues to prove that Mexico feels like home to her, having won two career titles at the Monterrey Open (2021, 2022) and reached a final at the Acapulco Open.

In a closely contested start, Fernandez applied more pressure on her opponent's serve, earning her first break opportunities in the second game, although she couldn't capitalize on them.

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With the score tied at 2-2, Leylah Fernandez secured four consecutive games, including two breaks that gave her a 6-2 lead over Navarro. Leylah was impeccable with her serve, hitting 71% of her first serves and winning 80% of those points, in addition to winning 67% of the points on her second serve.

The former US Open finalist took the first set in just 31 minutes, capitalizing on three of the five break opportunities she had and not conceding a single break point on her serve.

The second set started similarly to the first, with both athletes holding their serves without major issues. However, Fernandez took advantage of Navarro's errors and secured a break in the fourth game, taking a 3-1 lead.

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Although Navarro had her first break opportunity in the following game, Fernandez didn't falter under pressure and held her serve. The 21-year-old Canadian sealed the match with a solitary break, winning 6-2, 6-3.

This week, Fernandez has accumulated three consecutive victories in a main draw, a feat she hadn't achieved since her quarterfinal appearance at the 2022 French Open.

Her opponent in the quarterfinals will be a resurgent Sofia Kenin, who is currently enjoying her best form in recent years. The former Australian Open champion has already climbed back into the top 40 of the live rankings after reaching the final of the WTA 500 San Diego Open last week and securing three victories this week, the latest one against the sixth seed Jelena Ostapenko (16th) with a score of 6-4, 7-5.

Jacob Pacheco

@JacobPacheco6

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GAME SET & MATCH FERNANDEZ! 🇨🇦Leylah Fernandez defeats 🇺🇸Emma Navarro in straight sets 6-2 6-3 to advance to the QFs of the WTA 1000 Guadalajara Open! Pretty good performances for Leylah this week. Getting better too! She'll take on 🇺🇸Sofia Kenin next. #GDLOpenAKRON #CdnTennis

11:46 PM · Sep 20, 2023

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Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

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