Quebecer Leylah Annie Fernandez won her second career title on Sunday, defeating Camila Osorio in three sets of 6-7, 6-4 and 7-6 in the final of the tournament in Monterrey, Mexico.
Posted at 8:52 p.m.
Updated at 9:23 p.m.
She thus defended her title acquired last year after saving a total of five match points. This trench warfare lasted more than three hours.
It was to thunderous applause that the champion spoke to the crowd after the match, during the trophy ceremony. She was even unable to speak. The spectators shouted his name too loudly.
With his usual restraint, Fernandez spoke to those present in Spanish.
“First I would like to thank you for coming to watch our game and I want to congratulate Camila and her team for the incredible job they have done throughout the week. I hope that we will face each other several times in the final in the future”, she explained from the start.
She also thanked the tournament organizers, supervisors and volunteers for holding the event.
Then, the end of his speech was reserved for his father Jorge, present in Monterrey. He is “his trainer and his best friend”. She couldn’t thank him enough for everything he does for her, for being with her all week and for helping her become better. She hopes to be able to hold other trophies like the one she just won in the coming years.
An eventful game
Last year, the left-hander won her first title at the same tournament. This time, it wasn’t easy and she worked hard. The two young players had faced each other three times at the junior level, but this was their first duel in the professional ranks.
Fernando, 21and world player, started this final on a high note by winning the first three games and breaking Osorio in the process. She consolidated her lead in the fifth game by offering no points to her opponent, but it was at 4-1 that the Colombian started. The 44and ranked player won four of the next five games to make the first set 5-5.
She accelerated her game, put more pressure on her balls and returned absolutely all threats from the Quebecer. The first set rocketed to the tiebreaker and once again Osorio came from behind. Fernandez had taken a 3-1 lead, but her rival eventually won the set.
Osorio took a medical break after the first run.
She did not seem to be bothered when the activities resumed, since she won her first service game. However, Fernandez bounced back and had the better of the next four games.
However, history in the first set seemed set to repeat itself, as both players enjoyed success on serve. Osorio broke Fernandez and then won the next game by shutout. Nevertheless, Fernandez came out on top. She came back strong at the next point and fought hard to regain a 5-3 lead. At 10and game of the set, she saved three break points to finally win the set 6-4. She gave a huge cry of relief. The bleeding was stopped. It was her service return game that saved her during this set, with in particular 75% of the points won on the second ball.
From the start of the third set, the first game was like this match, that is to say extremely close. Osorio first saved two break points, but after long rallies and many tied returns. The Quebecer spun with the breakage.
It was enough to put Osorio back on track. The Colombian has taken over the service of her rival. We were playing break against break at 1-1. What followed was Osorio’s business, but Fernandez had a spark in the sixth game, at 4-1. The warrior in her resurfaced.
Except that an incident came to break the rhythm of the match. At 6-5, with Fernandez serving and it was tied, the stadium lights went out. On the sequence, the Colombian took stock and even if the Quebecer argued that the referee should have stopped the game, the status quo was maintained. The action was suspended for 14 minutes. Coming back, Fernandez erased the fourth match point from the point and pushed the game to its limit. She did the same blow she had suffered in the first set, coming back from behind 4-1.
The two young players fought a merciless battle at very high intensity until the very end.
In the tiebreaker, Fernandez was more combative, focused and relentless than her opponent. She won the point 7-3 for her second career title.