Leylah Annie Fernandez wins first career WTA title at Monterrey Open
Leylah Annie Fernandez defeated the Swiss qualifier Viktorija Golubic in the Monterrey Open final to win her maiden WTA Tour victory.
At just the age of 18-years-old, the Canadian appeared more composed than her opponent throughout their clash on Club Sonoma’s Estadio GNP Seguros.
✨ First WTA title ✨@leylahfernandez secures the title 🏆 with a 6-1, 6-4, win over Golubic!#AbiertoGNPSeguros pic.twitter.com/Tnt7C2RhZ3
— wta (@WTA) March 22, 2021
With all eyes on the final game, the young Canadian upset Golubic, jumping to a 5-0 lead early in the first match. Fernandez dominated the first set, cruising past Golubic 6-1 before winning the second set 6-4. The two women fought for each point, but Fernandez was able to keep the upper hand on her opponent.
Love at first sight. 😍@leylahfernandez meets her first WTA trophy.
A moment to remember. pic.twitter.com/5nFkYBR7y8
— Tennis Canada (@TennisCanada) March 22, 2021
READ: Leylah Annie Fernandez books spot in Monterrey Open final
En route to the final in Monterrey, Mexico, the Quebec native defeated CoCo Vandeweghe of the United States, Slovakia’s Kristína Kučová and Viktória Kužmová, as well as seventh seed Sara Sorribes Tormo of Spain. Sorribes Tormo had defeated Canadian Eugenie Bouchard in the final of the Abierto Zapopan in Guadalajara, Mexico last weekend.
With this victory, Fernandez will enter the top 75 in the WTA rankings next, marking a career-high.
Sunday’s match marks the second career WTA final appearance for Fernandez. Last year in her first WTA final appearance in Acapulco, Mexico, Fernandez lost to Great Britain’s Heather Watson in three sets of 6-4, 6-7(8), 6-1.
