Leylah Fernandez, the Canadian 4th seed, out-duelled 18-year-old qualifier Tereza Valentova from Czechia, 6-0 5-7 6-3, in the final of the WTA 250 Kinoshita Group Japan Open in Osaka on Sunday to land her 5th career title.
I also want to thank the fans. For coming this week, for supporting us – not only myself but every player in this tournament. Without you, we wouldn’t be here, so thank you so much for supporting us, motivating us, and bringing the good energy. Leylah Fernandez
The Canadian left-hander has struggled in recent months, losing in the 3rd-round of the US Open, the round of 32 at the China Open, and the 1st-round of the Wuhan Open, but she dropped only 2 sets this week en route to the title in Japan.
Fernandez defeated American Hailey Baptiste, Dalma Galfi, a qualifier from Hungary, and Slovakia’s Rebecca Sramkova in straight sets, before securing 3-set wins over Romanian Sorana Cirstea in the semi-final, and Valentova in the final.
Playing in her 8th career final, the former US Open finalist raced through to bagel the first set in just 29 minutes, before Valentova settled her nerves in the second, and found a way to level the match when she broke Fernandez in the 12th game.
In the decider, the 27th-ranked Canadian scored a crucial break in the 4th game, and then saw off a late challenge by the young Czech to claim her 2nd title of the season after lifting the WTA 500 DC Open trophy in July.
Fernandez paid tribute to her beaten opponent, Valentova, ranked 78 in the world, who was playing in her first WTA final.
“First of all, congratulations Tereza, you played amazing, and it’s been a wonderful week for you, your coach and your family,” 23-year old Fernandez said during the trophy presentation. “I’m sure I’m going to see you in many more finals like this one.
“I want to thank my team and my dad, who’s also my coach and my hitting partner,” Fernandez added. “Thank you so much for suffering with me this past week, past month and past year.
“I also want to thank my family and loved ones back home. Without you, I wouldn’t be here. Without everyone’s sacrifices and support, I wouldn’t be on this stage, so thank you so much for all the love and motivation you’ve given me.”
18-year-old qualifier Tereza Valentova had an impressive week in Osaka, and almost mounted a winning come-back against Leylah Fernandez in the final but fell in 2 hours and 11 minutes at the Japan Open
WTAtennis.com
Fernandez won the first 8 points and the first 7 games of the match against a shell-shocked Valentova, who eventually shook off her nerves to turn the 2 hour and 11 minute final into a true contest.
Valentova appeared emotional during the changeover after falling behind 0-5 down, perhaps feeling the pressure of the biggest moment of her career so far, but, to her credit, she regrouped, and played more freely in the second set, breaking Fernandez 3 times and finally consolidating in the final game to force the decider.
In the third, Fernandez’s greater experience proved decisive, and, leading 2-1, she pounced on Valentova’s second serve on break point, unleashing a crosscourt backhand followed by a down-the-line backhand winner to break for 3-1.
Valentova responded with one more break to close the gap to 4-3, and conjured up several more chances across the final set, but Fernandez held firm the rest of the way, and ultimately sealed the win, celebrating with a bow to the crowd.
“I also want to thank the fans,” Fernandez said. “For coming this week, for supporting us – not only myself but every player in this tournament. Without you, we wouldn’t be here, so thank you so much for supporting us, motivating us, and bringing the good energy.”
All 5 of Fernandez’s career titles have come on hard courts, and, with the win, the Canadian climbs 5 spots to No 22 in the PIF WTA Live Rankings on Monday, and reclaims her country’s No 1 ranking from Victoria Mboko.
For Valentova, the young Czech has made a strong impression in her first WTA final, having come through qualifying, and earning 6 wins across the week, including 3 over Top 50 opponents, which included a straight-sets victory over No 3 seed and World No 21 Elise Mertens from Belgium in the 2nd-round, and dropping just 3 games to another rising talent, Alexandra Eala from the Philippines, in the 1st.
She also came from a set down in her 2nd-round qualifying win over Belgian Greet Minnen, and in her quarter-final and semi-final victories over Serbia’s Olga Danilovic and Jaqueline Cristian from Romania, before so nearly repeating the feat in the final against Fernandez.
When the newest rankings drop on Monday, Valentova will reach a career-high at No 58, which is up 20 spots from where she began the week.
In Saturday’s doubles final, Taylor Townsend & Kristina Mladenovic, the No 2 seeds, defeated Storm Hunter & Desirae Krawczyk to claim their first title together in Osaka.
WTAtennis.com
In Saturday’s doubles final, American Taylor Townsend & Kristina Mladenovic from France, the No 2 seeds, defeated Australia’s Storm Hunter & Desirae Krawczyk from the USA, 6-4 2-6 [10-5], to claim their first title together in Osaka.
For Townsend, a 2-time Grand Slam champion and the current World No 2, it marks her 11th career WTA doubles title, and the 4th of the season.
With the win, she has now collected one WTA 250, WTA 500, WTA 1000 and Grand Slam title this season, while snapping a 2-match losing streak in finals.
It is the first title of the year for Mladenovic, bringing her career total to 29. The former doubles World No 1 owns 9 Grand Slam titles across doubles and mixed doubles.
Mladenovic hadn’t raised her arms in doubles since 2022, and the 32-year-old later expressed herself on her Instagram account:
“Hard to put words to this… I can’t believe I’m holding a trophy again so quickly! After being away from the courts for seven months, fighting against an injury and intense pain for months, without knowing if I would ever play again, being back is a victory.”
AloJapan.com