Leylah Annie Fernandez charges into third round at Roland Garros

Leylah Annie Fernandez advanced to the second round of the French Open on Thursday with a straight set victory of 6-3, 6-4 over Wang Xiyu.

The Canadian did not have to surpass herself excessively against the 66th player in the world during the 84 minutes that this confrontation lasted. An average success rate of 61% in the first service was enough. It was also the victim of only one breakage.

The Chinese, for her part, committed 8 double faults to make the task easier for Fernandez, who won 11 points in 19 opportunities on her rival’s second ball. She also broke it three times, also helped by 26 unforced errors.

The 22-year-old athlete is happy with the progress she has made since the start of the clay court season.

I have a little more confidence in myself and my game, says Fernandez. There were a lot of ups and downs and a few details I wasn’t sure about. I continued to work hard, talk to my coaches and that helped me a lot to prepare for this grand slam tournament. I’m happy with the work we’re doing and my tennis at the moment.

In the third round, Fernandez will face Ons Jabeur (8th). The Tunisian reached this stage by defeating the Colombian Camila Osorio (77th) in three sets of 6-3, 1-6 and 6-3.

I’m excited. Ons is a very good player, it’s not going to be easyconfides the 34th WTA player.

The Montreal native has yet to defeat Jabeur in three matches. In their last clash in April, in Madrid, Fernandez lost in three sets of 7-5, 2-6 and 6-4.

Andreescu snatch

Bianca Andreescu also continued her journey by defeating the Russian Anna Kalinskaya (23rd) in three rounds.

The Ontarian initially gave up the first with a score of 6-1, but she was able to recover to earn the second 7-5, by breaking her rival’s serve in the 12th game.

Exhilarated, the winner of the United States Open in 2019 dominated Kalinskaya in the final act, notably thanks to 9 points snatched in 14 opportunities in return of second balls. She took the Muscovite’s serve in the eighth game to take a 5-3 lead and served for the match.

Andreescu then had to overcome three break points before finally triumphing by a score of 6-3, after more than two hours of effort.

In the third round, the former number 4 in the world will cross swords with the Italian Jamine Paolini (12th)

Sabalenka advances easily

Aryna Sabalenka (2nd), winner of the last two Australian Open, rushed to advance to the third round at Roland Garros by dismissing Moyuka Uchijima (83rd) in two identical sets of 6-2.

Semi-finalist in Paris last year, the 26-year-old Belarusian presents herself as one of the big favorites for the final victory with the Polish Iga Swiatek, who notably beat her in the final of the last two WTA 1000 in Rome and in Madrid, on clay.

Always as dynamic on the court (25 winning shots against 10), Sabalenka was also very solid and was not broken, despite four opportunities offered to the 22-year-old Japanese. It was established in just over an hour.

In the next round, the Belarusian will face the Spaniard Paula Badosa (139th).