Leylah Fernandez, of Canada, returns the ball to Jessica Pegula, of the United States, during the third round of the U.S. Open, earlier this month in New York.Kirsty Wigglesworth/The Associated Press
Canada’s Leylah Fernandez is through to the second round of the Singapore Tennis Open following a 6-2, 6-3 win over Japan’s Kyoka Okamura on Monday.
Fernandez, who is seeded sixth at the WTA 500 event, was challenged by the Japanese qualifier more than the scoreline suggested, as the match took two hours 19 minutes to complete.
The first set contained a total of 23 deuce points, with Fernandez defending 11 of 12 break points faced while converting three of 12.
Fernandez out-aced her 30-year-old opponent 4-0.
The 24-year-old from Laval, Que., will next face the winner of a Tuesday match between American Alycia Parks and Japan’s Mei Yamaguchi.
Fernandez entered the tournament ranked No. 31 in the world.