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Filipino-Canadian Leylah Fernandez fights back but falls to Diana Shnaider in Pan Pacific Open final
Events · Canada

Filipino-Canadian Leylah Fernandez fights back but falls to Diana Shnaider in Pan Pacific Open final

By Kislap Editorial ·

Filipino-Canadian Leylah Fernandez won the second set from 4-0 down but lost the Pan Pacific Open final in Tokyo to Russia's Diana Shnaider 6-4, 5-7, 6-2, ending a run that included the Singapore Open title and the Ningbo final.

Filipino-Canadian Leylah Fernandez lost the Pan Pacific Open final in Tokyo to Russia's Diana Shnaider 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 on Sunday, Agence France-Presse reported.

Shnaider, the third seed, won the first set and led 4-0 in the second before Fernandez mounted what the WTA described as a spirited comeback, winning seven of the next eight games to take the second set 7-5 and force a decider.

Fernandez held serve to open the third set and then earned three break points on Shnaider's serve, but Shnaider saved all three, according to the WTA. AFP reported that Shnaider broke Fernandez twice in the final set to serve for the match at 5-2.

Fernandez, of Laval, Que., struggled with her serve, double-faulting five times and landing only half of her first serves in the first set, AFP reported. The Canadian Press said Shnaider hit two aces and no double faults.

A strong run on the Asian swing

Fernandez, ranked world No. 23, went into the final with 16 wins in her previous 20 matches, a run that included victory at the Singapore Open in September and a runner-up finish behind world No. 1 Elena Rybakina at the Ningbo Open the previous week, AFP reported. Tokyo was her second consecutive final.

She reached it with a 7-5, 6-3 semifinal win over Uzbekistan's Kamilla Rakhimova. Shnaider, ranked 13th, had beaten Alexandra Eala in the quarterfinals, AFP reported.

After the semifinal, the 2021 US Open finalist hailed her "mental fortitude", AFP reported.

"I'm proud of my mental fortitude. These aren't easy matches, so I'm happy that I was able to find solutions and stay calm in tough moments."

The title was Shnaider's first of the season and the sixth of her career. According to the WTA, she has now won her last four meetings with Fernandez, including three this season. During the trophy presentation, Shnaider congratulated Fernandez on her week and her Asian swing, telling her: "Congrats to you, your coach, your family back home. Keep going and for sure hope to see you more in the finals like this in the future."

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Key facts

  • Diana Shnaider beat Leylah Fernandez 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 in the Pan Pacific Open final in Tokyo on Sunday.
  • Fernandez won seven of eight games from 4-0 down to take the second set 7-5, the WTA reported.
  • Fernandez double-faulted five times in the final, AFP and The Canadian Press reported.
  • Fernandez went into the final with 16 wins in her previous 20 matches, including the Singapore Open title in September and the Ningbo Open final.
  • Shnaider, who beat Alexandra Eala in the quarterfinals, won her first title of the season and the sixth of her career.

Official sources

Kislap reports this story for general information only. Nothing here is immigration, legal, financial, tax, medical, employment, or other professional advice; check official sources and speak with a qualified professional before acting.