Friday, November 15, 2024

Canada’s Leylah Fernandez reaches quarterfinals at Hong Kong Open.

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HONG KONG – Canada’s Leylah Fernandez advanced to the quarterfinals of the Hong Kong Open, defeating Australia’s Kimberly Birrell 6-1, 6-2 on Thursday.

Fernandez, the tournament’s third seed, needed just 80 minutes to dispatch the world No. 115 on the hard court at Victoria Park Tennis Centre.

The 22-year-old from Laval, Que., dominated Birrell on serve, with a 76 per cent first-serve success rate and 75 per cent on her second serve, while committing just three double faults.

Canada’s Leylah Fernandez cruised past Australia’s Kimberly Birrell 6-1, 6-2 on Thursday, advancing to the Hong Kong Open quarterfinals. Fernandez serves to Ashlyn Krueger of the USA at the National Bank Open in Toronto on Thursday, August 8, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

Fernandez was sharp in key moments, converting four of eight break points and saving all three against her serve.

The Canadian next faces ninth-seeded American Bernarda Pera.