Clara Kuang (9) | STAFF REPORTER
21 year-old Canadian tennis player, Leylah Fernandez won the Hong Kong Open last Sunday on October 15 after a 19 month-long absence and ranking top-50 internationally.
Even after a difficult year, Fernandez thanks her family and coaches for staying with her.
“We had a very, very hard past couple of years,” Fernandez said. “My family, my parents, my coach, and my performance coach stayed by my side.”
“They keep me motivated… Hopefully, we can keep going this way.”
Fernandez began the match with a rocky start against Siniakova, falling behind 1-0 in the first set. Nonetheless, she came back strong 4-0 in the second set. As the set proceeded to 4-3 for Fernandez, the players engaged in a heated battle as she saved break-point after break-point. After the match, Fernandez said that it was a “tough game…especially emotionally, to control myself.”
Advancing to the final set, Siniakova and Fernandez played an engrossing rally at deuce. However, Siniakova crumbles to the ground in agony at the net after a volley. Siniakova resumed to the court again after a medical timeout, welcomed by the applause of the audience.
With Fernandez losing consistency of her serve, Siniakova came back with 3-3. Nevertheless, Fernandez takes back the lead of 5-4. Now more determined than ever, Fernandez closed the game with a win of 6-4.
Leylah Fernandez takes her first title since Monterrey Open 2022, outlasting Katerina Siniakova 3-6, 6-4, 6-4.
