Canadian tennis player Leylah Fernandez secured a hard-fought victory over Tereza Valentova from the Czech Republic in the final of the Japan Women’s Open. Fernandez, aged 23 and hailing from Laval, Quebec, dominated the first set, claiming it in just 28 minutes. However, Valentova, who is 18 years old, pushed back, leading to a tense battle that lasted nearly two hours before Fernandez emerged victorious.
This win marked Fernandez’s fifth career title and her second triumph of 2025, following her earlier success at the Washington Open. Post-match, Fernandez expressed gratitude towards her coach and father, Jorge Fernandez, along with her team and family, acknowledging their unwavering support. She credited their sacrifices and encouragement for her success, emphasizing their crucial role in her journey.
During the match, Fernandez demonstrated strong performance metrics, including three aces, seven winners, and minimal unforced errors and double faults. She outperformed Valentova in points won while receiving, with a 70% first-serve win rate and a 46% second-serve win rate. Fernandez also displayed resilience by saving the majority of break points against her.
Looking ahead, Fernandez is set to compete in the Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo, where she will face Greece’s Maria Sakkari due to a scheduling change. Meanwhile, Toronto’s Victoria Mboko will now confront Bianca Andreescu from Mississauga in an anticipated all-Canadian first-round match.