Leylah Fernandez displayed remarkable mental fortitude to secure a grueling three-hour, three-minute victory over qualifier Aliaksandra Sasnovich in the second round of the BNB Ningbo Open. Facing a deficit of 5-3 in the opening set, the Canadian rallied to close out the first set 7-5 before engaging in a tense tiebreak that she lost 7-6 (3). Refusing to let the momentum shift permanently, Fernandez dominated the final set, winning 6-3 to advance to her fifth WTA Tour quarterfinal of the 2026 season. This hard-fought win improves her head-to-head record against Sasnovich to 3-2, marking her third consecutive victory on hard courts against the qualifier.
Key Match Highlights & Tactical Analysis
The match served as a test of character for Fernandez, who credited her ability to remain composed under pressure for her continued run in Ningbo. In her post-match interview, the world-ranked player emphasized the importance of staying positive despite the physical and mental toll of the contest. “Just enjoying the battle,” Fernandez stated, noting that the atmosphere provided by the local crowd helped fuel her performance. While she expressed hope for a more focused performance in future rounds, her ability to navigate the high-stakes moments of the second set proved decisive in keeping her tournament hopes alive.
Fernandez’s path forward now leads to a quarterfinal showdown against Ekaterina Alexandrova, the defending runner-up. Alexandrova’s advancement came via retirement from No. 3 seed Marta Kostyuk, who was forced to withdraw from their second-round encounter. This development clears the way for Fernandez to challenge for a spot in the semifinals, where she will face a player with significant experience at this specific venue. With the top seeds navigating their respective brackets, Fernandez’s resilience in the second round positions her as a formidable contender in the upper half of the draw.
Source: WTA Tennis
