By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Friday October 13, 2023
Leylah Fernandez reached her first semifinal in over a year with a win over Linda Fruhvirtova on Friday in Hong Kong.
Photo Source: TTV
Leylah Fernandez powered past Czech teen Linda Fruhvirtova to bag her first WTA semifinal in 19 months on Friday at the Prudential Hong Kong Open. The 21-year-old Canadian produced a 7-6(2), 6-2 victory and will face Russia’s Anna Blinkova for a spot in the final on Saturday.
No.5-seeded Blinkova, the highest seed remaining in the draw, took out Sara Sorribes Tormo, 7-6(3), 6-3.
Blinkova, who defeated Fernandez in Bad Homburg in June (7-5, 6-2), is bidding for her second final of 2023 (Strasbourg).
Fernandez reaches her first WTA semifinal since claiming her second career title at Monterrey, Mexico in March of 2022.
"First semifinal in a long time," she said on Friday. "Getting these wins is extra special given what's been going on these past few years. I'm happy with the way I fought, the way I found solutions. I'm finally finding my game once again."
Fernandez pounded 34 winner against just 13 unforced errors to send the 18-year-old packing.
In the lower half of the draw Martina Trevisan will face unseeded Katerina Siniakova. The sixth-seeded Italian toppled Elise Mertens 6-4, 6-3, while Siniakova got past Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, 7-6(1), 6-4.