Fernandez Title Defence Remains on Track, Reaches Hong Kong Semis

It’s going to take an enormous effort to cease Leylah Annie Fernandez from going back-to-back on the Hong Kong Tennis Open. 

The defending champion from Laval is thru to the semifinals of the WTA 250 occasion after one other spectacular victory over Bernarda Pera within the quarter-finals in straight units on Friday. Whereas she confronted a bit extra resistance than within the first two rounds, Fernandez was in a position to dig in when she wanted to and marched into the final 4 with a 6-1, 7-6(7) win. 

Effectivity received out over uncooked energy within the quarter-final conflict as Fernandez received 74 per cent of her first serve factors and 52 per cent of her seconds, whereas claiming 59 per cent of the highly effective Pera’s second serve factors. Each ladies had six break level possibilities within the match, with Fernandez changing three of hers and saving 5 on her personal serve. 

Having cruised by her first two matches with the lack of simply seven video games, Fernandez stored the great occasions rolling into her quarter-final the place she broke on the first alternative within the second sport on her strategy to a fast 3-0 lead. 

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The Canadian was in management all all through the opening set. She added a second break to go up 5-1, though serving out the set proved to be her hardest check. Fernandez fell behind 15-40, the primary time she trailed in a service sport within the match, however was in a position to battle again to deuce. It took her three set factors to shut out the opener in simply over half an hour. 

Pera upped her aggression within the second set which allowed her to start out hanging with the Canadian. Nevertheless, Fernandez nonetheless appeared to be on her strategy to a routine win when she had break factors at 3-3. Pera saved two with massive serves however Fernandez stored coming. An enormous return gave her a 3rd look and a poor method from the American allowed the defending champion to tear a forehand winner and seal the break. 

Nevertheless, the Canadian couldn’t preserve her benefit. Within the following sport, she fell behind 15-40 and missed a forehand on the second break level to place the set again on serve. Fernandez was now struggling to defend her serve and located herself down double set level in her subsequent service sport too, however was capable of finding some massive serves to avert the catastrophe. 

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Pera’s highly effective hitting nonetheless appeared like it might lengthen the match. Within the tiebreak, she scored an early minibreak and at 3-2, she received each of Fernandez’s service factors to set herself as much as serve out the set a 5-2. Nevertheless, Fernandez dug in, irritating her American opponent and coaxing some errors to win 4 straight factors and arrange a match level. Pera saved it with an ace however after having her personal set level a 7-6, the American dedicated three straight errors handy the match to Fernandez. 

Standing between Fernandez and a second straight closing in Hong Kong is the highest seed Diana Shnaider. The pair have performed twice earlier than, each occasions since August, with Fernandez rising victorious on each events in Cincinnati and in Wuhan.