Fernandez Grinds Past Rakhimova, Sets Zheng Clash in Wuhan

Leylah Annie Fernandez wanted to drag out each trick she needed to struggle previous Kamilla Rakhimova on Wednesday on the Wuhan Open, grinding out a nearly-three-hour win to succeed in the third spherical of the WTA 1000 occasion. 

From in management to the brink of defeat, the Canadian survived one other roller-coaster in Wuhan. Fernandez regarded effectively positioned after dominating the opening set however Rakhimova dragged her right into a battle and appeared on the verge of victory when she led the third-set tiebreak. However the Canadian did what she does finest, mounting an exciting comeback to flee with a 6-2, 5-7, 7-6(4) win. 

In a good battle selected the margins, Fernandez was fractionally higher on serve, successful 70 per cent of her first serve factors. Regardless of placing simply 55 per cent of first serves in play in comparison with her opponent’s 62, the Canadian received extra second serve factors with 49 per cent to Rakhimova’s 46. Fernandez additionally saved six of 10 break factors whereas changing 5 of 12 alternatives. 

Each girls needed to survive break factors of their early service video games earlier than the Canadian made the primary transfer, carving a drop shot that caught her opponent flat-footed to interrupt for a 4-2 lead. Fernandez ended up successful the final 4 video games of the primary set in a row, breaking once more with a forehand volley winner to take it. 

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The Canadian had an opportunity to grab full management of the match when she held a break level in Rakhimova’s first service recreation of the second set however couldn’t run down a drop shot from the world No. 66. 

Rakhimova made Fernandez pay instantly, breaking for the primary time within the following recreation with a phenomenal lob winner. The Canadian managed to interrupt again for 3-3 however was unable to construct any momentum. Serving at 5-all, 30-all, Fernandez missed back-to-back midcourt volleys to drop serve and Rakhimova promptly served the match right into a decider. 

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A chaotic begin to the third set that noticed 4 consecutive breaks, together with back-to-back breaks to like within the third and fourth video games, failed to offer both participant a decisive benefit. After the early drama, the 2 settled in on serve with neither shedding greater than two factors on serve in a recreation by the subsequent seven video games. 

Fernandez was the primary to get right into a service recreation late within the decider and did so on the excellent time, organising a match level on Rakhimova’s serve at 5-6 however couldn’t convert. That miss regarded pricey when she then fell behind 3-0 within the match tiebreak. 

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However the Canadian had yet one more push in her. Again-to-back forehand winners received her on the scoreboard after which a clear return winner received the minibreak again as she closed to 3-4. Fernandez now had the wind and completed robust, successful the final 5 factors in row, together with the final two on Rakhimova’s serve, to sneak out the win. 

The Canadian now has an opportunity to succeed in her third WTA 1000 quarter-final of the season. To take action, she is going to want a repeat of the primary such occasion in 2024 as she takes on fifth seed and residential favorite Qinwen Zheng within the final sixteen. Fernandez defeated Zheng within the third spherical of the Qatar Open in straight units again in February. She leads their head-to-head 2-0.