Leylah Fernandez came back from one set down to beat Katerina Siniakova 3-6 6-4 6-4 at the Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open claiming the third title of her career and the first of the 2023 season.
Fernandez started the tournament ranked world number 60 and will return to the top 50 after her triumph in Hong Kong.
The Canadian player has claimed her first title since winning in Monterrey in 2022.
Siniakova earned two breaks in the third and ninth games to claim the first set 6-3. Fernandez built a 4-0 lead with two consecutive breaks. Siniakova pulled one of the two breaks back in the sixth game, but she took a medical time-out and returned to the court with her left upper leg. As the match resumed, Fernandez fended off six break points in the longest game of the match in a 10-deuce game. The Canadian served out the second set with a hold at 30 in the 10th game.
Siniakova was wrong-footed at the net by a passing shot from Fernandez. A medical time-out to tap Siniakova’s left leg.
Siniakova saved a break point in the first game of the third set, but Fernandez converted her fourth break point at deuce. Siniakova broke back to draw level to 3-3 with a return winner. Both players traded breaks In the seventh and eighth games. Fernandez claimed his third break to take a 5-4 lead and held serve on her second match point to seal the win after 2 hours and 40 minutes.
“We had a very hard past couple of years. My family, my parents, my coach, and my performance stayed by my side. They motivated to keep going and the hard work is paying off. Hopefully, we can keep going this way”, said Fernandez. “We had a very hard past couple of years. My family, my parents, my coach and my performance coach stayed by my side. They motivated me to keep going and the hard work is paying off. Hopefully, we can keep going this way”, said Fernandez.