Canada’s Leylah Fernandez is through to the semifinals of the Japan Open after defeating Slovakia’s Rebecca Sramkova 7-6 (2), 6-3 in Thursday’s quarterfinal clash.
The 23-year-old from Laval, Que., overcame a tight first set, winning the tiebreak 7-2, before stepping up her game in the second to close out the match in straight sets. Fernandez converted four of her nine break-point opportunities, while Sramkova capitalized on two of three chances.
Neither player dominated on serve — each recorded one ace — but Sramkova’s seven double faults proved costly compared to Fernandez’s three.
Fernandez will now face the winner of the quarterfinal between Switzerland’s Viktorija Golubic and Romania’s Sorana Cirstea for a spot in the final.