Mubadala Citi DC Open: Qualifier Fernandez beats Pera, sets up Sakkari clash

Canadian qualifier Leylah Fernandez beat American Bernarda Pera 6-3, 7-5 to advance to the last 16 of the Mubadala Citi DC Open on Tuesday.

Fernandez, a finalist at the US Open in 2021 and currently ranked No 88, will play No 4 seed Maria Sakkari next.

Moving on 👏@leylahfernandez is into the second round with her 6-3, 7-5 win over Pera.#MubadalaCitiDCOpen pic.twitter.com/9jB1TD6AcB

— wta (@WTA) August 2, 2023

This was Fernandez’s third win in a row this week after winning two matches in qualifying; and also, her fifth main draw win in her last 12 matches on tour.

The Canadian has lost her only previous meeting against Sakkari, which came in Melbourne in 2021.

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