And Then There Were Two: Leylah Fernandez Reaches Japan Open Final With Win Over Sorana Cirstea

Canadian tennis star Leylah Fernandez advanced to the Japan Open final on Saturday after a hard-fought semifinal win over Romania’s Sorana Cirstea.

Fernandez, the fourth seed and last remaining seeded player in the draw, battled past the 35-year-old veteran 6-1, 2-6, 6-4 in a gripping three-set encounter. With the deciding set tied at 4-4, Fernandez produced a crucial break before holding serve to seal her spot in the championship match — her eighth career final and first since the D.C. Open, where she lifted her fourth WTA singles title.

The 2021 U.S. Open runner-up will now face either Jaqueline Cristian or 18-year-old qualifier Tereza Valentova for the title. Cristian had earlier advanced to the semifinals after top seed Naomi Osaka withdrew with a left leg injury, handing the Romanian a walkover.

Fernandez, who lost to Coco Gauff in the second round of the China Open last month, will look to cap her strong late-season form with another trophy on Sunday.