Leylah Fernandez cruises to Hong Kong Open quarterfinals in straight sets
Defending champion faces No. 9 Bernarda Pera on Friday at 7:45 a.m. ET
Canada's Leylah Fernandez advanced to the quarterfinals of the Hong Kong Open, defeating Australia's Kimberly Birrell 6-1, 6-2 on Thursday.
Fernandez, the tournament's third seed, needed just 80 minutes to dispatch the world No. 115 on the hard court at Victoria Park Tennis Centre.
The 22-year-old from Laval, Que., dominated Birrell on serve, with a 76 per cent first-serve success rate and 75 per cent on her second serve, while committing just three double faults.
Near-perfect performance 💯<br><br>Defending champion <a href="https://twitter.com/leylahfernandez?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@leylahfernandez</a> cruises to a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Birrell!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PHKTO2024?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PHKTO2024</a> <a href="https://t.co/sbMMWHDmWu">pic.twitter.com/sbMMWHDmWu</a>
—@WTAFernandez, the defending champion, was sharp in key moments, converting four of eight break points and saving all three against her serve.
The Canadian next faces ninth-seeded American Bernarda Pera on Friday at 7:45 a.m. ET.
Fernandez holds a 2-0 career record against Pera, with their most recent matchup being a victory in the first round in Dubai last February.
Fabulous Fernandez 🙌<br><br>Sealing the first set in style <a href="https://twitter.com/leylahfernandez?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@leylahfernandez</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PHKTO2024?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PHKTO2024</a> <a href="https://t.co/3MLgR2vMVc">pic.twitter.com/3MLgR2vMVc</a>
—@WTA