Leylah Fernandez had the longest run of her career in a WTA 1000 tournament in Guadalajara, but it ended in the quarterfinals against Sofia Kenin on Thursday.
The WTA’s 53rd-ranked racket, a former fourth-ranked player, defeated the Quebecer in three sets 6-4, 6-7(6) and 6-0.
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The meeting, which lasted 2 hours and 46 minutes, was all or nothing for Fernandez in action. At times she was dominant – as evidenced by her 15 aces – but also succumbed to the opportunism of Kenin, who broke her four times on five occasions. Like the 21-year-old, the American was inconsistent with the ball in hand and committed twelve double faults.
The Laval resident took the second set not without difficulty, falling victim to two double faults in the tiebreak, which she won 8-6. However, Fernandez’s problems increased in the final set as Kenin struggled with his precise shots.
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This ends one of the young woman’s most beautiful journeys this season. She defeated Asia Muhammad, No. 13 seed Elise Mertens and Emma Navarro in straight sets to reach this stage. She has yet to reach a final this year and her epic in Guadalajara is her longest at a WTA 1000 or Grand Slam tournament.
Fernandez was also on the doubles team with American Taylor Townsend later in the evening. In the quarterfinals, the runners-up were defeated by Egyptian pair Mayar Sherif and Italian Jasmine Paolini in three sets, 6-3, 1-6 and 10-7.