Fan favourite Leylah Fernandez admitted it was sweet relief as she put the “ups and downs” of the past two years behind her by storming into the Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open final.
A finalist at the 2021 US Open, the 21-year-old Canadian has not won a WTA title since Monterrey in March 2022. But a straight-sets victory over Anna Blinkova of Russia on Saturday afternoon hinted she is back to her best.
Spurred on by a bumper crowd on Centre Court, with thousands more fans filing through the turnstiles in Causeway Bay, Fernandez blitzed world No 37 Blinkova in the opening set before showing plenty of fight to win 6-2, 7-5 in 78 minutes.
Partly of Filipino heritage, Fernandez has been the undoubted star of the tournament this week, and insisted the extra support has helped her regain top form.
“I love it. It has warmed my heart,” she told the Post. “The support has given me a lot of love, especially because I haven’t been travelling with my full team. It feels good to feel the encouragement from the crowd. I just feel more at home, and it helped me in the tough moments.
“I don’t want to jinx it, but I’m getting there, slowly but surely, every match improving, being more offensive, hitting my targets.
“The fans are loving it and in turn I’m loving their support, so it encourages me to keep going and play this way, and hopefully soon I can get back to a level I’m proud of, and say this is what I’ve been working for.”
Fernandez will play world No 85 Katerina Siniakova in Sunday’s final, after the Czech beat Martina Trevisan 6-4, 6-2 in Saturday’s second semi.
“I don’t want to think about it, but it would be great to end the year with a title, and it has been a very long time since I got to the semis and a final, so just enjoy the time on court, enjoy the crowd and environment, know it will be a great day no matter what the result is,” Fernandez added.
Fernandez rides Filipino fans’ love into Hong Kong Tennis Open semis
Fernandez rides Filipino fans’ love into Hong Kong Tennis Open semis
Fernandez was beaten by Emma Raducanu in the 2021 Flushing Meadows final, in what seemed to be a battle of two future giants of the women’s game. Things have not gone smoothly for either since, however, with Fernandez seeing her ranking drop from as high as No 13 to No 60.
“I do hope this Hong Kong final is going to give me more confidence and I can play [uninterrupted] or be consistent throughout next year,” she said. “There’s been a lot of ups and downs with results and injuries since then, but I think now I understand a lot more my game.
“A couple of years ago, I said at the age of 21 I would love to play a style of tennis where I have no doubts, and that’s what I’m doing this tournament.
“The past couple of years have been a learning experience for me, and I got to build a team around me that will help me and tell me the truth. I’m just extremely proud that throughout all the bad times I was able to maintain a good group to encourage me and keep believing in me.”
Fernandez will have her hands full against former doubles world No 1 Siniakova. The seven-time doubles grand slam champion may have to play the part of pantomime villain on Sunday, though.
“Well, it’s like this sometimes where the crowd is on your side, sometimes not,” said the Czech, who has four WTA singles titles to her name.
“I hope I will have some people in the crowd. She is the one who needs to win. I will just try to fight and enjoy another title.
“To win a title is every time really great, an amazing feeling, but it’s still so far to go. It’s going to be a big battle. I have the chance, and hopefully I will know the feeling.
“She’s going really well, she’s aggressive on this quick surface. It’s going to be really tough. But I think I also played some really great matches here.”
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