Canada’s Leylah Fernandez defeats Cirstea to advance to WTA Japan Open final

OSAKA, Japan – The last seeded player at the WTA Japan Open advanced to Sunday’s final – Leylah Fernandez defeated 35-year-old Sorana Cîrstea 6-1, 2-6, 6-4.

In Saturday’s deciding set, Fernandez broke Silstea’s serve at 4-4 and held his own in the rest of the game to advance.

The fourth-seeded Canadian will face either Jacqueline Christian or 18-year-old qualifier Theresa Valentova. Christian and Valentova met in the semifinals later Saturday.

Christian advanced to the semifinals on Friday when top seed Naomi Osaka withdrew due to a left leg injury, giving the Romanian an easy spot in the quarterfinals.

Fernandez, the 2021 U.S. Open runner-up, advanced to the final for the eighth time in his career. Her only semifinal appearance this season came at the WTA 500 DC Open, where she defeated Anna Kalinskaya in the final to capture her fourth WTA singles title.

Fernandez lost to Coco Gauff in three sets in the second round of the China Open in late September.