Leylah Fernandez hoped for a smooth return to the Tour following a long injury layoff. However, she was disappointed to not be able to live up to her lofty expectations. The Canadian was happy to have passed a tough mental test at Monday's Toronto Open.
The 19-year old lefthander, who had not been in action since the French Open quarterfinals, walked out to loud cheers and beat Storm Sanders 6-4, 6-7(2), 6-3 to win her first major draw victory at the WTA 1000 tournament.
Fernandez, who lost to Emma Raducanu last year in Flushing Meadows final, stated that after not playing for two weeks, he had high expectations for himself to play an incredible match.
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That everything's about to fall in and my serve, my return, and my forehand will work as I want it to.But it didn't. I was happy because I was mentally stronger to accept it in certain moments, and then get back on track to work. It's not my best level, but it was something I was happy with.
Fernandez was ranked at a career-high 13th. He had two match points at 5-4, but Australian Sanders saved them both before going on and winning the tiebreaker. Fernandez won the last set 3-2. He then held serve after a long eighth game. The crowd erupted in hysterics when a mouse entered the court.
Fernandez, who will also play doubles alongside her younger sister Bianca in order to get more match practice had a good time but kept her focused. She broke Sanders' delivery twice in the next match point to win her third match point. She said that doubles would require extra leg work, but she agreed. "That's what I want to see if it's something my body can handle.