(Seoul) Quebecer Leylah Annie Fernandez advanced to the quarterfinals of the Hong Kong Open on Thursday after coming from behind to defeat 16-year-old Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva 3-6, 6-1 and 6-3.
Fernandez, the 60th in the world, took just under two hours to overcome Andreeva, 50th in the world. She fired four aces, committed three double faults, and converted six of her 11 break points against the Russian – compared to four in eight opportunities for her opponent.
“She’s very tough,” Fernandez admitted of Andreeva. I am very satisfied to have been able to hold my own and to have managed to find solutions. I wasn’t afraid to go to the net, even if I made a few mistakes going there. »
She will face Czech Linda Fruhvirtova, the 88th-ranked player in the world, in the next round, who beat Russian Alina Korneeva 6-4, 7-5.
The 21-year-old from Laval had a good start to the tournament, after taking advantage of the retirement of favorite Victoria Azarenka with the match tied at 2-6, 6-3, 0-0 early in the tournament. week.
For her part, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova defeated second seed Beatriz Haddad-Maia 7-5, 1-6, 6-1 to reach the quarterfinals.
Pavlyuchenkova will now have a meeting with Katerina Siniakova.
Third seed Elise Mertens ousted Sofya Lansere 6-3, 7-6 (5), setting the table for a duel against sixth seed Martina Trevisan. The latter barely took the measure of Magdalena Frech 6-3, 6-7 (4) and 6-3.
For her part, Sara Sorribes Tormo defeated fourth seed and local favorite Wang Xinyu 6-4, 4-6 and 6-1. The Spaniard will face fifth seed Anna Blinkova in the next round.
Earlier Thursday, American Jessica Pegula reached the quarterfinals of a WTA tournament for the 12th time this season, after defeating Ashlyn Krueger 6-3, 6-1 at the Open South Korea.
Pegula will now face her compatriot Claire Liu on Friday.
Back Da-yeon, a guest player ranked 569th in the world and who upset second seed Jelena Ostapenko in the tournament opener, lost 6-0, 6-1 to Kimberly Birrell.
On the other hand, the fourth seed Marie Bouzkova continued her journey after the abandonment of Eva Lys. Additionally, Emina Bektas defeated Jang Su-jeong 6-3, 6-4, meaning she reached the quarterfinals of a WTA tournament for the second time in her career.
In Zhengzhou, Ons Jabeur started his tournament on the right foot by eliminating Lucia Bronzetti 6-3, 7-6 (5).
Jabeur, seeded seventh, will face the winner of the match between Bai Zhuoxuan and eighth seed Daria Kasatkina in the quarterfinals.
Elsewhere, Laura Siegemund came from behind to defeat Liudmila Samsonova 3-6, 6-2, 6-1. Siegemund, 133rd in the world, will meet Jasmine Paolini in the quarter-finals.
