OSAKA, Japan – Leylah Fernandez, the last seeded player at the WTA Japan Open, advanced to Sunday’s final after defeating 35-year-old Sorana Cîrstea with a score of 6-1, 2-6, 6-4.
The match, which extended to the decisive set on Saturday, saw Fernandez break Cîrstea’s serve at 4-4, and then hold his own serve in the next game, thus securing his advance.
The Canadian tennis player, seeded fourth, will face Tereza Valentova, an 18-year-old player from the qualifying phase, in the final. Valentova achieved victory over Jaqueline Cristian with scores of 6-7 (3), 6-4, 6-3 in the other semifinal.
Cristian reached the semifinals after Naomi Osaka, the top seed, withdrew due to a left leg injury on Friday, granting the Romanian player a direct pass to the next round in the quarterfinals.
Fernandez, finalist of the US Open in 2021, reaches her eighth final in her career. Her previous appearance in the semifinals this season was at the WTA 500 D.C. Open, where she was crowned champion, after defeating Anna Kalinskaya, thus achieving her fourth WTA singles title.
Fernandez suffered a three-set defeat to Coco Gauff in the second round of the China Open in late September.