Leylah Fernandez of Laval, Que., is through to the second round of the Japan Open after defeating Japan’s Himeno Sakatsume 6-4, 6-2 on Tuesday.
The Canadian, ranked 23rd in the world, needed just over 90 minutes to beat the world’s 114th-ranked player. The 24-year-old converted three of nine break-point opportunities.
Fernandez is coming off a runner-up finish at the Ningbo Open last weekend. She will next face fifth-seeded Elise Mertens of Belgium, whom she beat last week in Ningbo.
Doubles exit
Fernandez also withdrew from the doubles competition on Tuesday because of a left-arm issue, according to the official WTA draw. She and Spain’s Cristina Bucsa were scheduled to face top seeds Gabriela Dabrowski of Ottawa and Luisa Stefani of Brazil, who advanced to the quarterfinals by walkover.