Canada’s Leylah Fernandez lastly has solved Maria Sakkari.
Fernandez received for the primary time in 4 profession matches towards Greece’s Sakkari, rolling to a 6-2, 6-0 triumph within the second spherical of the China Open on Friday.
The Twenty fifth-seeded Fernandez, who obtained a bye within the first spherical of the WTA Tour 1000 hard-court occasion, was taking part in for the primary time since dropping to No. 1 seed and eventual champ Aryna Sabalenka within the third spherical of the U.S. Open in late August.
Sakkari, ranked 56th on this planet, additionally was ousted within the third spherical of the final Grand Slam of the season. She reached a career-best No. 3 within the rankings in 2022.
Fernandez transformed all 5 of her break factors towards Sakkari. She feasted on Sakkari’s second serve, profitable greater than 63 per cent of these factors.
Fernandez, from Laval, Que., will subsequent face No. 2 seed Coco Gauff, who defeated Russia’s Kamilla Rakhimova 6-4, 6-0 within the second spherical.
The American is 2-0 lifetime towards Fernandez, profitable all 4 units within the matches performed earlier this yr in Australia.
Canada’s Victoria Mboko, the No. 21 seed, is scheduled to face Anastasia Potapova within the second spherical on Saturday.
Mboko, who received the Nationwide Financial institution Open in August in Montreal, hasn’t performed since dropping within the first spherical of the U.S. Open.
