Leylah Annie Fernandez continued her success at the Guadalajara tournament in Mexico on Wednesday.
The Quebecer won her round of 16 duel against the American Emma Navarro in straight sets 6:2 and 6:3. It marked the first time the world’s 74th player has reached the quarterfinals of an event since the Cleveland tournament in August and the fourth time in 2023.
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Fernandez put in an excellent performance when she had possession of the ball against the 49th ranked player in the world. She managed 66% of her first serve attempts and won 82% of the contested rallies in this situation.
The Montreal native only faced one break point and found a way to escape the embarrassment. She also beat her rival three times.
In the quarterfinals, Fernandez will face American Sofia Kenin. The player, ranked 53rd in the WTA world rankings, has caused several surprises since the start of the Mexican competition. She notably defeated Jelena Ostapenko and Anhelina Kalinina, who are seeded sixth and twelfth respectively. The 24-year-old athlete also beat Canadian Carol Zhao in the opening game.
In addition, Fernandez is also playing doubles in Guadalajara. The team she forms with American Taylor Townsend is the second favorite. The two teammates will face the Italian Jasmine Paolini and the Egyptian Mayar Sherif in the quarterfinals.