(Melbourne) Leylah Fernandez overcame some rust and nervous moments early in the match before finding her bearings and eliminating France’s Alizé Cornet 7-5, 6-2 in the first round of the Australian Open on Tuesday .
The 20-year-old Lavalloise, 40e in the world, faced 0-2 and 1-3 deficits in the first set before finding his rhythm and winning the first set in 55 minutes.
Victim of a break in the first game of the match, Fernandez brought the duel back to even service thanks to a break in the sixth game. She ended this first set thanks to her second break of the match, in the 12e Game.
Fernandez was more effective in the second set, especially on her serve, where she gave her 32-year-old, 34-ranked rival no break chance.e in the world.
PHOTO MARTIN KEEP, AGENCY FRANCE-PRESSE
Alize Cornet
She broke away from Cornet with a break in the sixth game to give herself a 4-2 lead. She ended the match with another break of serve, when Cornet sent a backhand over the baseline.
Fernandez finished the match with two aces, only one double fault, 25 winners and 29 unforced errors. By comparison, Cornet had two aces but committed seven double faults, scored 14 winners and 32 unforced errors.
In the second round, Fernandez could find her compatriot Katherine Sebov or another Frenchwoman, and not least, Caroline Garcia, seeded fourth.
Sebov, a 24-year-old Torontonian, is playing in her first career Grand Slam tournament.
Aryna Sabalenka moves forward quietly
Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka, 5e world, easily qualified for the second round by beating the Czech Tereza Martincova (74e) 6-1, 6-4.
PHOTO HANNAH MCKAY, REUTERS
Aryna Sabalenka
“I’ve always worked to vary my game and it’s finally starting to work,” said the powerful 24-year-old player.
In the next round, she will face the American Shelby Rogers (51e).
Sabalenka reached 8are finals in the last two editions of the Australian Major, without going any further. She has reached the Grand Slam semi-finals three times (Wimbledon 2021, United States Open 2021 and 2022).
France Media Agency