Three comebacks from a set and a break down in a single event proved to be too many for Leylah Annie Fernandez on the Cincinnati Open. Regardless of pushing Jessica Pegula deep into the third set after the American had a number of large leads, the Canadian couldn’t end the job, falling within the quarter-finals 7-5, 6-7(1), 7-6(3).
Within the first and second rounds, Fernandez had gained regardless of being down a set and a break. The Canadian trailed the quarter-final conflict by a set and a double break at 7-5, 4-0 after which 3-0 within the third set. Every time, she fought again, however on the enterprise finish of the decider it was Pegula who managed to hold on for the win.
There was little between the 2 ladies within the three-hour battle. Every had 15 break factors, Pegula transformed seven whereas Fernandez managed six. The Canadian had 34 winners to Pegula’s 25 but additionally dedicated 48 unforced errors, two greater than her opponent. Ultimately, the American gained simply seven extra factors total.
4 video games handed within the opening set earlier than the drama began. From 2-2, there have been seven consecutive breaks of serve. 3 times, Pegula broke the Canadian to take the lead, just for Fernandez to instantly reply to degree the set.
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Pegula broke for a fourth time for a 6-5 lead, her second probability to serve out the set, and this time she ended the run of breaks by holding to like to wrap up the opening set.
In contrast to the back-and-forth that was the primary set, the second was all about runs of momentum. Pegula stored up her nice returning to start out, breaking in Fernandez’s first two service video games to take a 4-0 lead.
The Canadian managed to carry within the fifth recreation, ending a run of six consecutive breaks of her serve. She then turned the tables on Pegula, breaking twice throughout a five-game run to flip the set from 0-4 to 5-4.
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Fernandez had set factors on the American’s function Pegula served to remain in it at each 4-5 and 5-6 however couldn’t convert. Nevertheless, the Canadian dominated the tiebreak, dropping only a single level to drive a deciding set.
As soon as once more, Pegula put herself in a powerful place when a Fernandez forehand error handed her an early break because the American took a 3-0 lead within the decider. However Fernandez was by no means going to go away quietly, responding with three straight video games of her personal to degree at 3-3.
The 2 matched one another maintain for maintain because the third went alongside however Pegula had an opportunity to shut out the match on Fernandez’s serve at 6-5, getting a have a look at three match factors. The Canadian was nonetheless refusing to again down, saving two with large pictures and Pegula missed one with a forehand error because the match went to a tiebreak.
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Lastly, Pegula was capable of construct a lead that Fernandez couldn’t overcome. A minibreak courtesy of a backhand into the online by the Canadian gave the Toronto champion a lead she stretched to 4-1. Fernandez would by no means get again inside some extent because the American completed off the match on her fifth match level.
Fernandez remains to be alive within the doubles with Yulia Putintseva. They’re scheduled to play their semifinal in a while Saturday.
