Canadian-Filipina tennis star Leylah Fernandez capped her Singapore Open campaign in emphatic fashion, defeating Australia’s Talia Gibson, 7-5, 6-0, in the championship match on Sunday in Singapore.
The sixth-seeded Fernandez overcame a competitive opening set before taking complete control in the second, winning six straight games to close out the match in straight sets.
Fernandez produced five aces and converted six of 12 break-point opportunities, while winning 70 total points compared to Gibson’s 52.
The Canadian-Filipina also held a significant advantage in return points, winning 37 compared to Gibson’s 20. Fernandez won seven service games throughout the match, while Gibson managed three.
After edging Gibson in the opening set, Fernandez carried the momentum into the second frame and raced through it without dropping a game.
The victory capped an impressive Singapore campaign for Fernandez, who entered the tournament as the sixth seed and advanced through a challenging draw that included top seed Mirra Andreeva.
Fernandez also benefited from strong support from Filipino fans throughout her run in Singapore, with her Filipino heritage continuing to draw a large following whenever she competes in the region.
The title adds another significant achievement to the résumé of the 2021 US Open finalist, who has continued to make her mark on the WTA Tour. (Adrian Co)
