Fernandez saves five matchpoints to defend Monterrey title
Teenaged Canadian Leylah Fernandez said she was pleased with her fighting spirit after managing to save five championship points to defend her title in Monterrey on Sunday against Colombia's Camila Osorio.
Playing her first title match since going down to Britain's Emma Raducanu in the U.S. Open final, Fernandez rallied after losing the opening set and facing a 4-1 deficit in the decider to beat Osorio 6-7(5) 6-4 7-6(3) in the WTA 250 tournament.
"Today it was a very, very tough match, not only physically or tennis-wise, but mentally," Fernandez said. "Camila, she's a tough player to play against. She's very crafty, she does slices, high balls, it's very unpredictable.
"I'm very, very happy that I was able to find a way through my mistakes, find a way to get back in the match and then find a way to win it at the end and not get frustrated with myself. I'm very, very happy to have gone through these hard moments."
It was the second WTA title for the 19-year-old, both coming
in the Mexican city of Monterrey.
The Canadian jumped to a 4-1 lead in the opener and also served for the set at 5-3 only to lose it to the 35th ranked Osorio in the tiebreak.
Fernandez took another 4-1 lead in the second set before
Osorio got a break of serve back and the Canadian found the grit to hold on to
take the contest to a decider.
"Camila, I hope we have many, many more finals like
this, because without her, I don't think this tournament, this final, would be
(as) special," Fernandez said.
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