Leylah Annie Fernandez of Montreal, Quebec, continued her Asian momentum during the 2024 tennis season with an impressive first-round upset at the 2024 Wuhan Open in China on Monday. In the first round, Fernandez, the world No. 28 player, beat Russia’s Diana Shnaider, the world No. 16 and No. 12 seed, 6-7, 6-3, 6-3 in Wuhan.
Fernandez’s serve worked exceptionally well. She had seven aces, compared to two for Shnaider. Fernandez also broke Shnaider seven times and won 79% of points on her first serve, compared to just 60% for Shnaider.
This was the second time this season that Fernandez defeated Shnaider. She also won in the third round in Cincinnati 6-1, 6-4.
Fernandez’s career-best Grand Slam result came on hardcourt at the United States Open, the same surface she is playing on in China this week. Fernandez reached the final at Flushing Meadows before losing to Emma Raducanu of Great Britain 6-4, 6-3.
Next up for Fernandez is either Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic or Moyuka Uchijima of Japan. Muchova is also a Grand Slam finalist, having reached the last two of the 2023 French Open. Muchova made headlines last week when she reached the final of the China Open in Beijing before losing to American Coco Gauff 6-1, 6-3. Muchova had two big surprises along the way. She defeated world number two, reigning Australian Open and United States Open champion Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus, 7-6, 2-6, 6-4, in the quarterfinals on Friday, and then defeated fifth seed, reigning Olympic gold medalist and the 2024 Australian Open champion Qinwen Zheng of China, 6-3, 6-4 in the semifinals.
Fernandez has already played against Muchova twice. Muchova won the second round of the 2022 Miami Open 6:4, 7:6. Fernandez won the first round of the 2024 Paris Olympics 6-1, 4-6, 6-2.
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