Leylah Fernandez, the Canadian fourth seed, triumphed in a thrilling final at the WTA 250 Kinoshita Group Japan Open in Osaka, overcoming 18-year-old qualifier Tereza Valentova from Czechia with a scoreline of 6-0, 5-7, 6-3. This victory marks the fifth title of Fernandez’s career and her second of the season, following her earlier success at the WTA 500 DC Open in July.
The match, which took place on Sunday, showcased contrasting performances from the two players. Fernandez, known for her aggressive left-handed play, started off in commanding fashion, clinching the first set in just 29 minutes with a dominant display that left Valentova struggling to find her rhythm. However, the young Czech soon found her footing, showing remarkable resilience by rallying in the second set. After managing to break Fernandez’s serve in a crucial twelfth game, Valentova brought the match to a decisive third set.
In the final act, Fernandez’s experience shone through, particularly when she secured a vital break in the fourth game of the final set. Despite Valentova’s spirited fightback, which included a break to narrow the score to 4-3, Fernandez held her nerve to ultimately win the match after 2 hours and 11 minutes of intense competition. After the match, Fernandez graciously praised Valentova for her impressive performance, acknowledging that the rookie had a promising future ahead.
“Congratulations Tereza, you played amazing,” Fernandez said during the trophy presentation. “It’s been a wonderful week for you, your coach, and your family. I’m sure I’m going to see you in many more finals like this one.”
Despite a disappointing end, It was a remarkable week for Valentova, who had come through qualifying and displayed solid performances against several higher-ranked players. Her journey to the final included victories over Elise Mertens, the third seed, as well as a series of strong matches against other formidable opponents. The Czech will also see a significant rise in her rankings, reaching a career-high of No. 58 as a result of her efforts in Osaka.
Fernandez, meanwhile, not only celebrated her title but also reclaimed her position as the top-ranked Canadian player, moving up to No. 22 in the PIF WTA Live Rankings after the tournament.
In the doubles final, American Taylor Townsend and France’s Kristina Mladenovic also enjoyed success, defeating the Australian duo of Storm Hunter and Desirae Krawczyk 6-4, 2-6 [10-5]. This victory marked their first title together and added to Townsend’s impressive collection of 11 WTA doubles titles. For Mladenovic, returning to the winner’s circle was especially poignant following a long injury layoff.
As the tennis season progresses, the performances in Osaka suggest an exciting road ahead for both Fernandez and Valentova, each finding renewed motivation and determination as they build towards future tournaments.
