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Leylah Annie Fernandez’s first journey to Doha is off to an ideal begin after she took out the No. 12 seed Liudmila Samsonova in straight units on Monday on the first WTA 1000 occasion of the 12 months.
Enjoying in her first match since the Australian Open, the Canadian survived some early stress from her opponent earlier than holding her nerve regardless of a late push within the second set to hold on for a 7-5, 7-6(4) win.
When the mud settled, Fernandez received only one extra level within the match, getting revenge for a defeat of their lone previous clash at the 2022 US Open. Regardless of dealing with stress, the Canadian defended her serve properly saving six of eight break factors confronted.
Whereas Samsonova was sturdy on the primary serve, successful 70 per cent of these factors, Fernandez exploited her second by successful 60 per cent when the 12th seed missed her first supply.
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The primary couple of video games of the match had been a curler coaster, with Fernandez saving a number of break factors within the first recreation after which breaking for a 2-0 lead, solely to instantly be damaged again with Samsonova pulling again stage at 2-2.
All through the opening set, the Canadian discovered herself dealing with stress on serve however she was as much as the problem, saving break factors within the seventh and ninth video games. Fernandez then flipped the script on the good second, breaking Samsonova within the 12th recreation to steal the set.
Fernandez once more broke in her first return recreation of the second set and this time held on to take a 3-0 lead. She stored her nostril in entrance till she blinked serving for the match at 5-3 the place the 12th seed broke to get again on serve.
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Nonetheless, the Canadian practically was capable of shut on her opponent’s serve within the following recreation holding three match factors. However Samsonova dug deep, saved all three with some spectacular massive hitting, and ultimately pressured a tiebreak.
As soon as once more Fernandez put herself in an excellent place to complete off the match, racing to a 5-1 lead within the breaker, just for Samsonova to make it fascinating by pulling again to 5-4. This time, the Canadian didn’t let the lead slip away, taking the final two factors on her opponent’s serve to complete off the upset.
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Subsequent up for Fernandez is former world No. 2 Paula Badosa. The Spaniard has received all three of their earlier conferences in straight units, though two of them had been by the identical tight 7-5, 7-6 scoreline.
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