Leylah Fernandez Advances to the Japan Open Final
OSAKA, Japan – The last seeded player in the WTA Japan Open, Leylah Fernandez, secured her place in Sunday’s final after defeating Sorana Cîrstea.
Fernandez, of Canadian origin and fourth seed, defeated Cîrstea, 35, with a score of 6-1, 2-6, 6-4.
In a decisive final set, with the score tied at 4-4, Fernandez managed to break Cîrstea’s serve and held his own serve in the next game to secure his advance.
In the final, Fernandez will face the young Tereza Valentova, an 18-year-old player coming from the qualifying phase.
Valentova reached the final after defeating Jaqueline Cristian with a score of 6-7 (3), 6-4, 6-3 in the other semifinal.
Cristian reached the semifinals thanks to the withdrawal of Naomi Osaka, the top seed, who retired due to a left leg injury.
This will be the eighth final in Fernandez’s career, who was the runner-up at the US Open in 2021.
Her only other semifinal appearance this season was at the WTA 500 D.C. Open, where she was crowned champion after defeating Anna Kalinskaya, earning 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.
