Leylah Fernandez saved the first match point against her. Then another one, and another one. By the time the dust had settled, Fernandez had saved five match points in total and was, once again, the Monterrey Open champion.
It was anything but easy. Opponent Camila Osorio played spectacular tennis, and for most of the match, outshined Fernandez. She had fewer aces, but also fewer double faults, and her serve looked impressive. Ultimately, however, in a game that seemed to come down to experience in big games, Fernandez managed to pull off the victory.
Osorio won the first set in a tiebreak, Fernandez the second and the third, with the deciding set also going to tiebreak. The last set, however, wasn’t without controversy. With Osorio up 6-5, Fernandez lodged a complaint with tournament officials regarding a faulty light in the stadium. Officials ordered the lights to be repaired, which led to a delay. By the time play resumed, momentum had shifted. Osorio had lost control.
The match took almost three hours to complete and Fernandez celebrated the win on Twitter by shouting out the host country.
Both players can walk out of the match feeling good about their game, though Osorio is sure to rue the missed opportunities. Not only did she squander five match points, but she also only converted 4 of 15 break opportunities. Fernandez, on the other hand, seemed to be in control at various points during the match, only to let her opponent fight back to even.
This is surely not the last time we see these two rising tennis stars face each other. For now, it’s Leylah Fernandez’s time to celebrate her second Monterrey Open. It was a struggle, but it’s always easier to look back on those with a smile when you prevail.