Fernandez thrills the Montreal faithful with win over Haddad Maia

Canadian wildcard Leylah Fernandez couldn’t convert a match point against Beatriz Haddad Maia in the second set on Wednesday night in Montreal. Not to worry, she doubled down her intensity in the final set and pulled away with a gritty 7-5, 5-7, 6-3 triumph at Stade IGA in Montreal.

It was a magical moment for the local favorite and Montreal native, and it snapped a 10-match losing streak against the Top 20 and marked Fernandez’s first back-to-back wins since January.

RAISING THE ROOF IN MONTREAL 🇨🇦@leylahfernandez | #NBO23 pic.twitter.com/atffLIrcR2

— Omnium Banque Nationale (@OBNmontreal) August 10, 2023

Fernandez, ranked No 81, will face the winner of the match between American qualifier Danielle Collins and Greek Maria Sakkari, the No 8 seed, next.

She is into the round of 16 at the National Bank Open for the first time.

The 20-year-old Canadian won against American qualifier Peyton Stearns (6-3, 6-2) ahead of her victory.

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Tennis Majors

In the previous round of the Rogers Cup, Haddad Maia, ranked No 12, won against Pole lucky loser Magdalena Frech (6-4, 6-2).

Montreal WTA 1000, other second-round results (Stade IGA, hard, USD 2.788.468, most recent results first):

• Petra Kvitova vs. Camila Giorgi
• Jasmine Paolini vs. Madison Keys
• Danielle Collins vs. Maria Sakkari: wednesday
• Marketa Vondrousova (9) beat Caroline Wozniacki (WC): 6-2, 7-5
• Elena Rybakina (3) beat Jennifer Brady: 6-7 (3), 7-6 (5), 6-3
• Daria Kasatkina (10) beat Anna Blinkova: 6-2, 7-5
• Karolina Muchova (14) beat Sorana Cirstea: 7-5, 6-4
• Liudmila Samsonova (15) beat Qinwen Zheng: 6-3, 6-2
• Jessica Pegula (4) beat Yulia Putintseva (LL): 6-4, 6-4
• Iga Swiatek (1) beat Karolina Pliskova: 7-6 (6), 6-2
• Belinda Bencic (12) beat Alycia Parks (Q): 6-3, 5-7, 6-4
• Coco Gauff (6) beat Katie Boulter (Q): 6-2, 6-2
• Victoria Azarenka vs. Sloane Stephens
• Petra Martic vs. Aryna Sabalenka
• Marie Bouzkova beat Caroline Garcia (5): 6-4, 4-6, 6-2