Leylah Fernandez Advances to the Japan Open Final
OSAKA, Japan – The last seeded player remaining in the WTA Japan Open, Leylah Fernandez, has secured her place in Sunday’s final after defeating Sorana Cîrstea.
Fernandez, of Canadian origin and seeded number four, defeated Cîrstea with a score of 6-1, 2-6, 6-4.
In a crucial moment of the decisive set, with the score at 4-4, Fernandez managed to break Cîrstea’s serve. Subsequently, she held her own serve in the following game, securing her advance to the final.
In the final, Fernandez will face Tereza Valentova, an 18-year-old player who qualified for the tournament. Valentova reached the final after defeating Jaqueline Cristian with a score of 6-7 (3), 6-4, 6-3.
Cristian had reached the semifinals thanks to the withdrawal of Naomi Osaka, the top seed, due to a left leg injury.
For Fernandez, runner-up at the US Open in 2021, this will be her eighth final of her career. Her only previous advance to a semifinal this season was at the WTA 500 D.C. Open, where she won her fourth WTA singles title after defeating Anna Kalinskaya.
Fernandez suffered a three-set defeat to Coco Gauff in the second round of the China Open at the end of September.
