Leylah Fernandez reached her first season final at Hong Kong Open, defeating Anna Blinkova

Posted : 14 October 2023

Leylah Fernandez, on the tennis court, feels like she's "getting there" after a stellar performance that secured her spot in her first final of the season at the Hong Kong Open. The Canadian sensation exhibited her prowess by defeating Anna Blinkova in straight sets, with a scoreline of 6-2, 7-5, setting up a thrilling showdown in the final with either Martina Trevisan or Katerina Siniakova on Sunday. Fernandez's journey to the final has been marked by impressive victories, and her journey towards victory is gaining momentum.

The young Canadian, currently ranked 60th in the world, has been on a mission to capture her first title since her triumph at the Monterrey Open last year. Fernandez exuded confidence as she reflected on her recent performance, emphasizing her improvement in offensive play and precision on the court.

She shared, "Slowly but surely, every match I've been improving, being more offensive, and hitting more targets." Her remarkable victories over top seed Victoria Azarenka and other formidable opponents in Hong Kong have certainly caught the attention of fans and the tennis world.

In a display of sportsmanship, Fernandez acknowledged the tough battle she faced against Anna Blinkova, who she described as a "tremendous player" with great power and confidence. She shared her approach to the match, saying, "I just tried to stay calm. I remembered my coach's words to me: this is a battle, just enjoy it, have fun and put on a show for everyone." Her fans have been a source of motivation, and she's eager to continue her journey to a level of play she can be proud of.

In a parallel tennis narrative, world No. 4 Jessica Pegula proved her mettle by defeating Yanina Wickmayer 6-4, 6-3 in a swift 80-minute clash during the semi-final of the Korea Open. Pegula is on a quest to claim her third title of the year and will face off against Yuan Yue in the final.
Pegula, who has Korean heritage, expressed her delight at reaching the final in Seoul, stating, "Being half-Korean and being able to be in the final here is something I can always say." Her determination and ability to make her opponent "earn points" were notable in her performance.

Yuan Yue, the world No. 128, exhibited resilience and skill in a hard-fought match against Marie Bouzkova, securing her place in the final with a 6-7, 6-4, 6-2 victory. The final in Seoul promises to be a compelling battle between two determined players.

Switching gears to the Shanghai Masters, Hubert Hurkacz put on a commanding performance, dominating Sebastian Korda with a scoreline of 6-3, 6-4. Hurkacz's serve and groundstrokes were on point, and he did not face a single break point in his 77-minute victory. He expressed his satisfaction with the performance, saying, "I’m just really happy with my performance today."

Now, the stage is set for a thrilling final, where Hubert Hurkacz will take on the winner of the Grigor Dimitrov and Andrey Rublev match. Tennis enthusiasts can look forward to an exciting showdown as these players vie for supremacy in the Shanghai Masters.

Leylah Fernandez reached her first season final at Hong Kong Open, defeating Anna Blinkova

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