Canada’s Leylah Fernandez got off to a fast start and then had to fight back to defeat Tereza Valentova of the Czech Republic 6-0, 5-7, 6-3 in the Japan Women’s Open championship final on Saturday night.
Fernandez, 23, of Laval, Que., needed just 28 minutes to win the first set, but then needed nearly two more hours to close it out when Valentova, 18, found her game at the Utsubo Tennis Center in Osaka.
The victory was Fernandez’s second title in 2025 and the fifth of his career, after winning the Washington Open earlier this year.
Leylah Fernandez of Laval, Que., is the Japan Open champion in Osaka, defeating Tereza Valentova of the Czech Republic 6-0, 5-7, 6-3.
After the game, the Canadian thanked her coach and father, Jorge Fernández, as well as her team and family.
“Thank you so much for suffering with me last week, last month and last year. I also want to thank my family and loved ones at home. Without you, I wouldn’t be here,” he said. “Without everyone’s sacrifices and support, I wouldn’t be on this stage, so thank you so much for all the love and motivation you’ve given me.”
Fernández finished with three aces, seven winners and only four unforced errors and two double faults.
She earned 43 points while receiving, compared to Valentova’s 31.
Fernandez had a winning percentage of 70 percent on the first serve and 46 percent on the second serve. She saved five of nine break points, while Valentova saved nine of 16.
Fernandez will stay in Japan to open the Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo against Greece’s Maria Sakkari after her originally scheduled match with Toronto’s Victoria Mboko was changed following a draw update.
Instead, Mboko will face Bianca Andreescu of Mississauga, Ont., in an all-Canadian first-round matchup.
