Fernandez Hangs On for Opening Win at Australian Open

Leylah Annie Fernandez was the primary Canadian to kick off their 2025 Australian Open marketing campaign and the primary to succeed in spherical two, overcoming each the weather and Yuliia Starodubtseva in straight units on Sunday. 

Opening the motion on Kia Enviornment, Fernandez led for a lot of the match however needed to battle to place away Starodubsteva, who refused to let the Canadian run away with the match. Nonetheless, Fernandez had the solutions late in each units as she claimed a 7-5, 6-4 win. 

The match was largely on the Canadian’s racket as her “refuse to surrender the baseline” type dictated the rallies. Consequently, she had greater than double her opponent’s winner rely, 31 to fifteen, but additionally had extra unforced errors with 45 to the Ukrainian’s 31. Break level effectivity was a deciding issue, as Fernandez transformed 5 of 10 break level probabilities whereas her opponent solely managed three breaks regardless of 11 alternatives. 

Fernandez was gradual off the mark as a slew of errors gave the Ukrainian probabilities to interrupt in a marathon opening recreation. Fortuitously for the Canadian, she was in a position to conjure a few sturdy serves to save lots of the break factors and maintain. 

She then rapidly went on the offensive, ripping an enormous return to arrange a break level of her personal in Starodubtseva’s opening service recreation. Fernandez punched a pleasant drop volley to take a 2-0 lead. She needed to battle to consolidate, combating again from 15-40 down within the subsequent recreation however she managed to carry for 3-0. 

Learn additionally: WTA Energy Rankings – Sabalenka Eyeing Three-Peat at Australian Open

The pair exchanged breaks within the fifth and sixth video games so the Canadian managed to keep up her benefit, regardless of persevering with to fend off threats on serve. Serving for the set at 5-3, 15-0, the rain arrived and compelled the gamers again to the locker room for a number of hours.  

Once they returned, it appeared Fernandez’s rhythm was damaged and three straight unforced errors on the restart gave the Ukrainian break factors. Whereas the Canadian battled again to deuce, back-to-back missed forehands handed the break to her opponent. Fernandez refound her vary on the excellent time, although. As Starodubtseva served to remain within the set at 5-6, the Canadian began blasting winners seemingly at will. She had 5 within the recreation as she broke to wrap up the opening set. 

Learn additionally: ATP Energy Rankings – Sinner Appears to Keep Dominant at Australian Open

The second set adopted an analogous script as the primary, with Fernandez breaking early, the Ukrainian breaking again when the Canadian served for the set, solely to be damaged late. 

This time, Fernandez acquired the one break of the early phases to take a 3-1 lead and he or she would journey that lone break till she served for the match at 5-3. She had missed a match level on her opponent’s serve within the earlier recreation however had two probabilities to shut it out at 40-15 within the ninth recreation. Nonetheless, errors once more value the Canadian as she let Starodubtseva again to deuce, the place the Ukrainian crushed back-to-back winners to interrupt. 

Learn additionally: 5 Canadians Face Difficult Paths at Australian Open – Draw Evaluation

Undeterred, Fernandez responded instantly as her opponent served to remain within the match within the following recreation. The Ukrainian appeared nervous together with her again in opposition to the wall and double-faulted to arrange a fourth match level. This time, she missed a forehand to ship the Canadian into the third spherical. 

Fernandez is trying to attain the third spherical of the Australian Open for the primary time. Standing between her and spherical three might be Spain’s Cristina Busca. The Canadian gained their lone earlier assembly final summer time on the Olympics. 

Félix Auger-Aliassime, who arrives in Melbourne contemporary off a title in Adelaide, will kick off his Australian Open on Monday in opposition to Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff, not earlier than 2 am EST. 

Tickets for the Davis Cup Qualifiers 1st Spherical tie between Canada and Hungary at the moment are on sale. Be a part of us February 1 and a pair of at IGA Stadium in Montreal, because the Canadian staff begins their quest for the 2025 Davis Cup Closing 8. To entry tickets at early-bird pricing, click on right here.