Leylah Fernandez of Laval, Que., defeated fifth-seeded Elise Mertens of Belgium 6-2, 7-6 (8) in second-round women’s singles action at the Japan Open on Thursday morning in Tokyo.
Fernandez grabbed a 4-1 lead in the second set, but Mertens mounted a comeback. Mertens won the next two games, and Fernandez pushed ahead to 5-3. Mertens then won two straight games to level the set.
The second set went to a tiebreak. Mertens won the first three points, but Fernandez answered with three straight of her own. The back-and-forth battle continued until Mertens took an 8-7 edge. Fernandez then won the final three points to close out the win.
Fernandez hit three double faults and did not serve an ace. She did, however, convert four of her 11 break-point opportunities.