For the second time this season, Leylah Annie Fernandez has defeated Austria’s Julia Grabher, this time within the opening spherical on the Dubai Obligation Free Tennis Championships, a WTA 1000 occasion.
The 20-year-old Laval native posted a convincing 6-4, 6-2 victory on Sunday to comply with up the flawless 6-0, 6-1 win she earned in opposition to Grabher, ranked no. 90 on the planet, earlier this yr in Auckland. Fernandez was on the entrance foot from the outset and dominated proceedings from begin to end as soon as once more. Her solely hiccup within the match got here when she was damaged within the eighth sport of the primary set to assist her opponent get again even at 4-4. Nonetheless, she rebounded instantly within the subsequent sport to get the break again and by no means seemed again from that time on.
Fernandez was aggressive, and in full management which meant Grabher couldn’t do a lot to sluggish her down. It’s a superb time for a dose of confidence as she’s set to face World No. 1 Iga Swiatek of Poland within the second spherical. The 2 gamers have met as soon as earlier than, final season, in a one-sided contest that went the way in which of Swiatek who was topped champion in Doha this weekend to cap one more dominant event for the most effective participant within the ladies’s sport.
Fernandez can be entered in doubles and can workforce up with well-liked American Bethanie Mattek-Sands. The duo will face Anna Danilina and Luisa Stefani of their opening match.
Bianca Andreescu will look to affix her Canadian compatriot in spherical 2 on Monday when she takes on Australian Open finalist and the reigning Wimbledon winner, Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan.
