Quebecer Leylah Fernandez signed an important victory for Canada, Saturday in Vancouver, as part of the Billie Jean King Cup.
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Fernandez, 50th racket in the world, came back from behind to defeat Ysaline Bonaventure (86th) in three sets of 4-6, 7-5 and 6-2.
The maple leaf rubs shoulders with Belgium to try to get its ticket to the Finals, scheduled for November. This gain allowed him to survive the day and force the holding of an ultimate match. Fernandez will team up with Gabriela Dabrowski on Sunday in a doubleheader against Kristen Flipkens and Greet Minnen.
Fernandez placed 69% of her first serve attempts in play and won 65% of the rallies she started on the first try. She mostly showed optimism as the game progressed, after wasting seven break points in the first set.
After a hotly contested second set, the young Montrealer put all the chances on her side by winning the first three games of the final round. Fernandez suffered a break while leading 5-1, but answered the following game by taking advantage of her fourth match point.
Later Saturday, Katherine Sebov had an opportunity to seal the victory for Canada, but ultimately suffered a 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 loss to Minnen.
Sebov (136th) could not complete his comeback against the one who once occupied the 69th world rank.