The Canadian achieves a personal first and is closing in on the world’s top 20 again.
Former US Open finalist Leylah Fernandez continues her upward trajectory. At the WTA tournament in Osaka, the 27-year-old Canadian defeated 18-year-old qualifier Tereza Valentova from Czechia 6-0, 5-7, 6-3 to celebrate her second tournament victory this year. Previously, she had not won more than one title on the tour in a calendar year, but now she has five in total. Most recently, Fernandez, seeded number four in Osaka, triumphed in Washington in July. With her success in Japan, she is now closing in on the top 20 in the world rankings again. Despite the defeat in her first final on the tour, Valentova has once again made significant gains in the rankings and is now in the top 60 for the first time in her career. Naomi Osaka, the top seed in Osaka, had to withdraw from her home tournament before the quarterfinals due to a thigh injury.
