Fernandez triumphs in Osaka for fifth WTA title
Leylah Fernandez turned a tense final into a statement of resilience, outlasting Tereza Valentova’s bold push to lift the Japan Open trophy and build momentum for the fall swing.
Under the steady glow of Osaka’s indoor hard courts, Leylah Fernandez arrived at the Japan Open final with quiet determination etched into her game. The 27th-ranked Canadian, a one-time US Open runner-up, faced 18-year-old qualifier Tereza Valentova in her eighth career final, a matchup blending experience against emerging fire. Fernandez wasted no time, her flat groundstrokes slicing through the air to claim the first set 6-0 in just 29 minutes, the crowd’s murmurs building as the Czech teen struggled to find her footing on the quick surface.
Valentova settles and strikes back
As the second set unfolded, Valentova shook off her early jitters, her aggressive inside-out forehands starting to kiss the lines with precision. Fernandez’s unforced errors surfaced amid the pressure of a season dotted with close escapes, allowing the qualifier to build longer rallies and disrupt the Canadian’s rhythm with occasional underspin slices. The turning point came in the 12th game, when a deep crosscourt return earned the break, leveling the match at one set all and igniting the Osaka faithful with applause for the underdog’s grit.
Fernandez felt the shift, her usual penetrating pace occasionally floating higher on the grippy hard, giving Valentova chances to redirect balls down-the-line. The Czech’s youthful energy fueled extended exchanges, forcing the veteran to tighten her footwork and vary her returns to regain control. This back-and-forth exposed the tactical layers of the contest, where raw potential tested seasoned resolve under the thickening tension.
Crucial break ignites final surge
In the decider, Fernandez reset with focus, striking a vital break in the fourth game through a sharp inside-in forehand that wrong-footed her opponent. She consolidated with a hold powered by her one–two punch of serve and immediate pressure, pinning Valentova deep and limiting her counterattacks. The Czech mounted a late challenge, saving break points in grueling baseline duels, but Fernandez’s depth and experience held firm, closing out 6-3 as the crowd rose in recognition of her poise.
This victory marked her second title of the season, following the WTA 500 D.C. Open in July, and eased the mental weight of a year marked by injuries and narrow defeats. As she hoisted the trophy, the applause echoed her relief, a hard-earned boost signaling renewed form. With the tour turning toward year-end battles, Fernandez’s adaptability on these courts hints at deeper runs ahead, where every adjusted pattern could redefine her trajectory.