World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka showcased her resilience and firepower to overcome Leylah Fernandez 6–3, 7–6(2) in a tightly contested clash. The Belarusian absorbed early pressure before asserting her authority in the first set and then showed composure in a tense second-set tie-break to close the match in straight sets.
Set 1 – Sabalenka’s Survival Instincts Pay Off
The match began with an immediate test of Sabalenka’s nerves. Serving first, she was dragged into a marathon opening game in which Fernandez carved out five break points. Each time, Sabalenka found a big first serve or a heavy strike to stay alive, and after multiple deuces, she finally held for 1–0. That gritty escape set the tone for the set.
Fernandez answered strongly with a confident hold, but once Sabalenka’s forehand began to dictate, momentum swung. At 2–1, the world No. 1 pounced on her first real opening, breaking the Canadian to take control. She consolidated for 4–1 and never looked back. Fernandez held her ground in the later stages, but Sabalenka’s serve closed the door at 6–3.
Set 2 – Trading Holds Until the Tie-Break
The second set was a story of serving discipline from both players. Fernandez struck first, holding to love, and carried that composure deep into the set. Sabalenka matched her stride for stride, facing pressure in a long game at 5–5 but holding with clutch deliveries. Fernandez too stood tall, most notably saving a break point in the seventh game to edge ahead 4–3.
Neither player yielded serve through twelve games, pushing the set to a tie-break. There, Sabalenka immediately stamped her authority, scoring the first mini-break and surging to a 6–1 lead. With the cushion established, she wrapped up the breaker 7–2, sealing both the set and the match in commanding style.
Sabalenka vs Fernandez – Set 1 Stats
| Statistic | Sabalenka | Fernandez |
|---|---|---|
| Dominance Ratio | 1.00 | 1.00 |
| Winners | 15 | 15 |
| Unforced Errors | 10 | 8 |
| Serve Rating | 294 | 294 |
| Aces | 2 | 3 |
| Double Faults | 1 | 1 |
| 1st Serve % | 67% (29/43) | 70% (26/37) |
| 1st Serve Points Won | 76% (22/29) | 77% (20/26) |
| 2nd Serve Points Won | 50% (7/14) | 45% (5/11) |
| Break Points Saved | 100% (1/1) | – (0/0) |
| Service Games | 100% (6/6) | 100% (6/6) |
| Ace % | 4.7% | 8.1% |
| Double Fault % | 2.3% | 2.7% |
| Return Rating | 78 | 74 |
| 1st Return Points Won | 23% (6/26) | 24% (7/29) |
| 2nd Return Points Won | 55% (6/11) | 50% (7/14) |
| Break Points Won | – (0/0) | 0% (0/1) |
| Return Games | 0% (0/6) | 0% (0/6) |
| Pressure Points | 100% (1/1) | 0% (0/1) |
| Service Points | 67% (29/43) | 68% (25/37) |
| Return Points | 32% (12/37) | 33% (14/43) |
| Net Points | 83% (5/6) | 71% (5/7) |
| Total Points | 51% (41/80) | 49% (39/80) |
| Max Points In A Row | 5 | 5 |
| Match Points Saved | 0 | 1 |
| Service Games | 100% (6/6) | 100% (6/6) |
| Return Games | 0% (0/6) | 0% (0/6) |
| Total Games | 50% (6/12) | 50% (6/12) |
| Max Games In A Row | 2 | 1 |
| Injury Timeouts | 0 | 0 |
| Set 1 Duration | 0h 59m | |
Match Summary
Sabalenka’s ability to navigate danger early — especially in that bruising opening game — gave her the platform to settle into rhythm. Once ahead, her serve and forehand combination kept Fernandez under constant pressure. The Canadian, however, deserves credit for her fighting spirit, as she protected her serve admirably across the second set and forced the top seed to prove herself in the tie-break.
Ultimately, Sabalenka’s big-match experience shone through. By converting the one key break of serve in the opener and then dominating the tie-break in the second, she completed a 6–3, 7–6(2) win without ever surrendering her own serve.
Key Turning Points
- Opening game of the match: Sabalenka saved 5 break points to hold, flipping early momentum in her favor.
- Break at 2–1 in Set 1: The only service break of the match, allowing Sabalenka to dictate the opener.
- Fernandez’s clutch serving at 3–3 in Set 2: Saved a break point to keep the contest tight.
- Tie-break dominance: Sabalenka surged ahead 6–1 with powerful serving and relentless pressure, effectively sealing the victory.