Leylah Fernandez defeated fifth-seeded Elise Mertens of Belgium 6-2, 7-6 (8) in second-round women’s singles action at the Japan Open in Tokyo on Thursday morning.
Fernandez, of Laval, Que., moved ahead 4-1 in the second set before Mertens mounted a comeback.
After dropping the next two games, Fernandez made it 5-3, but she again surrendered two consecutive games.
Tiebreak decides it
In the tiebreak, Mertens won the first three points before Fernandez responded with three straight of her own. The contest then turned into a back-and-forth affair, and Mertens eventually took an 8-7 lead. Fernandez, however, won the last three points to seal the victory.
Fernandez hit three double faults and did not serve an ace. She did, however, convert four of her 11 break-point opportunities.