Laval’s Leylah Fernandez defeated fifth-seeded Elise Mertens of Belgium 6-2, 7-6 (8) in second-round women’s singles action at the Japan Open in Tokyo.
The Story
Leylah Fernandez held off Elise Mertens to advance from the second round of the Japan Open in Tokyo on Thursday morning, defeating the fifth-seeded Belgian 6-2, 7-6 (8) in women’s singles.
In the second set, Fernandez took a 4-1 lead before Mertens rallied. After Fernandez dropped the next two games, she made it 5-3, but then gave up two consecutive games.
The match was decided in a tiebreak that swung back and forth. Mertens won the first three points, but Fernandez responded with three straight of her own, and the tiebreak eventually saw Mertens take an 8-7 lead before Fernandez won the last three points to close out the victory.
Fernandez served three double faults and recorded no aces, while converting four of her 11 break-point opportunities.
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