Leylah Fernandez is set to compete for her second title of the year after a thrilling semifinal victory at the WTA 500 tournament in Osaka, Japan. The Canadian tennis player, who was the runner-up at the 2021 US Open, demonstrated remarkable resilience by overcoming Sorana Cirstea of Romania in a hard-fought match that concluded with a score of 6-1, 2-6, 6-4. Fernandez will face Tereza Valentova in the final, the young Czech qualifier who has made waves this week by defeating several top-seeded players.
Fernandez, the tournament’s fourth seed, had a rocky start to her Asian tour. However, her recent form in Osaka has seen her reach the final round without dropping a single set in her first three matches, besting opponents including American Hailey Baptiste and Hungarian Dalma Galfi. The semifinal against Cirstea was a different story, marked by significant momentum shifts.
In the early stages of the match, Cirstea seized an unexpected advantage, breaking Fernandez’s serve right out of the gate. Nevertheless, the determined Canadian swiftly bounced back, winning six consecutive games to clinch the first set. Despite the initial setback, Cirstea regrouped and dominated the second set, managing to create consistent pressure that led to back-to-back breaks of serve.
Entering the decisive third set, Fernandez found herself trailing 1-3 against a revitalized Cirstea. However, she displayed remarkable poise, breaking back to level the score at 4-4 before claiming the match with a break in the final game. With this victory, Fernandez is now aiming for her fifth WTA singles title.
On the other side of the draw, Tereza Valentova’s path to the final has been equally impressive. The 18-year-old qualifier came from behind to defeat Jaqueline Cristian, overcoming a first-set loss before winning 6-7(3), 6-4, 6-3 in a match that lasted nearly three hours. Valentova’s journey began in the qualifying rounds, where she defeated talented players like third-seeded Elise Mertens and Olga Danilovic.
In her semifinal match, Valentova had to rally after losing the first set in a tiebreak. Stronger in the subsequent sets, she utilized a combination of powerful serves and strategic gameplay to secure her spot in the final, marking her first appearance in a WTA final.
The upcoming clash between Fernandez and Valentova promises to be an exciting encounter, not only for the title but also for positioning in the rankings. Should Fernandez emerge victorious, she will ascend as the highest-ranked Canadian female player, surpassing Victoria Mboko. Both competitors are eager to capitalize on their hard-fought journeys to this stage, making Sunday’s final a must-watch event.
