Canada’s Leylah Fernandez upsets Haddad Maia at National Bank Open
Posted August 9, 2023 8:24 pm.
Last Updated August 9, 2023 8:25 pm.
Canada’s Leylah Fernandez is heading to the round of 16 at the National Bank Open after upsetting No. 11 seed Beatriz Haddad Maia of Brazil 7-5, 5-7, 6-3 in a thriller on Wednesday in Montreal.
Fernandez lost a match point in the second set on Haddad Maia’s serve before going on to lose the set.
However, the Canadian regrouped to take the match in the decider. Fernandez notched the first and only break of the third set to take a 5-3 lead before serving it out.
Leylah Annie Fernandez comes up clutch in the third set to claim victory! ????????#OBN23 | @OBNmontreal pic.twitter.com/AKPFVmJi4f
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) August 10, 2023
The 20-year-old Fernandez, from nearby Laval, Que., lost to the Brazilian last year in the second round in Toronto. Haddad Maia then advanced to the final, losing to Simona Halep.
Fernandez’s ranking has slipped to No. 81 during a rocky 2023 season. She’s trying to find the form of 2021 when she advanced to the U.S. Open final.
With the win Wednesday, Fernandez snapped a 10-match losing streak against top-20 opponents.
It also marks the first time she has won consecutive matches in the main draw of a tour-level event since the season-opening tournament in Auckland, New Zealand.
Fernandez will face the winner of a match between No. 8 seed Maria Sakkari of Greece and American qualifier Danielle Collins in the round of 16 on Thursday.
