Leylah Fernandez advances to Ningbo Open quarterfinals after three-set victory over Sasnovich

ASM, Philippine Canadian Inquirer
October 22, 2026

Photo courtesy: WTA

NINGBO, China — Canadian tennis star Leylah Annie Fernandez secured a place in the quarterfinals of the 2026 Ningbo Open after battling past Belarusian qualifier Aliaksandra Sasnovich, 7-5, 6-7(3), 6-3, on Wednesday, October 21.

The 24-year-old from Laval, Quebec, needed three hours and three minutes to overcome Sasnovich in a closely contested second-round match at the WTA 500 tournament.

Fernandez faced an early challenge when Sasnovich took a 5-3 lead in the opening set. However, the Canadian recovered by winning four consecutive games to claim the set, 7-5.

Sasnovich responded in the second set, forcing a tiebreak that she won 7-3 to level the match.

With a quarterfinal berth on the line, Fernandez regained control in the deciding set, winning 6-3 to complete her second consecutive three-set victory in Ningbo.

The match was far from flawless for Fernandez, who committed 53 unforced errors and eight double faults. Sasnovich, meanwhile, recorded 73 unforced errors.

Despite those difficulties, Fernandez converted eight of her 15 break-point opportunities and secured the victory on her first match point, according to The Canadian Press.

The win sends Fernandez into her fifth WTA quarterfinal of the season and her first at the Ningbo Open.

She had previously defeated Belgium’s Elise Mertens, 2-6, 6-3, 7-5, in the opening round, showing similar determination to recover from a set down.

Following her victory over Sasnovich, Fernandez said maintaining a positive mindset helped her get through the demanding match.

“Just enjoying the battle,” she said in her on-court interview, adding that she was pleased to remain calm during difficult moments.

Fernandez will next face Russia’s Ekaterina Alexandrova, who advanced to the quarterfinals after Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk retired from their second-round match following the opening set.

The two players recently met at the Wuhan Open, where Fernandez defeated Alexandrova in three sets.

Their upcoming match in Ningbo will give Fernandez another opportunity to extend her run as she seeks a place in the tournament’s semifinals.