Canadian tennis player Leylah Fernandez had a strong start followed by a challenging battle to defeat Tereza Valentova from the Czech Republic with a score of 6-0, 5-7, 6-3 in the championship final of the Japan Women’s Open on Saturday evening. Fernandez, aged 23 and hailing from Laval, Quebec, swiftly secured the first set in just 28 minutes, but faced a tougher fight against the 18-year-old Valentova at the Utsubo Tennis Center in Osaka, requiring nearly two more hours to secure the win. This victory marked Fernandez’s fifth career title and her second win of 2025, following her earlier success at the Washington Open.
After the match, Fernandez expressed her gratitude to her coach and father, Jorge Fernandez, along with her team and family. She credited them for their enduring support and sacrifices throughout her journey, acknowledging that without their love and motivation, her achievements would not have been possible.
During the match, Fernandez showcased a commendable performance with three aces, seven winners, only four unforced errors, and two double faults. She managed to win 43 points while serving, surpassing Valentova’s 31 points. Fernandez maintained a 70% win percentage on her first serve and a 46% success rate on her second serve. She successfully defended against five out of nine break points, while Valentova managed to save nine out of 16 break points.
Looking ahead, Fernandez is set to compete in the Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo, where she will face off against Maria Sakkari from Greece, following a scheduling change that shifted her initial match against Victoria Mboko from Toronto. As a result, Mboko is now slated to play against Bianca Andreescu from Mississauga, Ontario, in an all-Canadian first-round clash.
