(Mason) In a match lasting more than three hours, Quebecer Leylah Fernandez lost Saturday in the quarter-finals of the Cincinnati Open to Jessica Pegula, the queen of the last two editions of the National Bank Open.
After three hours and four minutes, the American prevailed 7-5, 6-7 (1) and 7-6 (3).
The 12the The final set game required 18 points, after which Pegula settled the second tiebreaker without much trouble.
Pegula is the sixth seed in the tournament, while Fernandez is seeded 26th.e women’s tennis ranking.
The Canadian overcame a 0-4 deficit in the second set, even taking a 5-4 lead. In the next game, however, she wasted three break points and her rival was able to level the score.
Fernandez dominated the first tiebreaker with a line drive, a passing shot and an excellent serve to seal the fight.
In the last set, the Laval player fought well after falling behind by 0-3, winning the next three games.
Fernandez, however, ran out of resources after a 12e sprawling game.
Pegula got seven breaks, one more than the Quebecer.
Pegula is undefeated in her last eight matches. On Sunday, she will meet in the semi-finals the Spanish Paula Badosa (N.36), who eliminated the Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (N.28) 6-3, 6-2.
The other semi-final will pit favourite Iga Swiatek against Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka.
Later Saturday, Fernandez had more success in doubles: she and Yulia Putintseva beat Linda Noskova and Diana Shnaider, 6-3, 6-4.