Fernandez stays alive with three-set win in Canada

Leylah Fernandez treats the Canadian crowd to a win late on Monday night, beating Storm Sanders in three tight sets. It is Fernandez’s first win since the fourth round at Roland-Garros.

Leylah Fernandez at Indian Wells in 2021 (Panoramic)

Tennis Majors

August 9, 2022

Canadian Leylah Fernandez, the No 13 seed, defeated Australian qualifier Storm Sanders 6-4, 6-7(2), 6-3 to advance to the second round of the National Bank Open at the Aviva Centre in Toronto on Tuesday night.

Fernandez was back on the court after an almost two-months break due to a foot injury in Roland-Garros.

“I think I’m extremely happy that I got my first win in National Bank Open in three years”, she said. “Three years played against a qualifier, three years I lose against a qualifier.”

“So I was happy that today I was able to get the win. And I think after not playing for two months I had a lot of expectations for myself to play an amazing match. That everything’s going to fall in and like my serve, my return, my forehand’s going to work like I want it to. But it did not.”

“I think I was just happy the way that I was stronger mentally to accept it in certain moments and then get back to work. So it’s obviously not my best level but I was just happy that I was able to fight through all these emotions that I had for myself.

Fernandez, ranked No 13, will face Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia next.

WTA Toronto, other first-round results: