Leylah Annie Fernandez of Montreal, Quebec delivered the most impressive win she has had in 2025 on Monday. In the second round of the Qatar Open in Doha, Fernandez, the 2021 United States Open finalist, beat the Qatar Open number eight seed, world number nine and 2024 United States Open semifinalist Emma Navarro of the United States, 6-2, 6-2.
Fernandez had four aces in the match compared to zero for Navarro. Fernandez also broke Navarro five times in seven opportunities. Fernandez won 81% of the points on her first serve. Navarro only won 15% of the points on her second serve.
This was the third time in four matches Fernandez has beaten Navarro. Fernandez’s other wins came in the second round of Indian Wells in 2023 (6-2, 6-4) and the third round of the Guadalajara Open in 2023 (6-2, 6-3).
Fernandez got the win over Navarro despite the fact the American had the first round bye. In the first round, Fernandez beat qualifier Greet Minnen of Belgium, 6-1, 6-2.
In the third round, Fernandez will either face the ninth seed Paula Badosa of Spain (the 2025 Australian Open semifinalist) or Amanda Anisimova of the United States (the 2019 French Open semifinalist). Fernandez is 1-3 all-time against Badosa, with the only win coming in the second round of Doha last year (0-6, 6-2, 6-3). Fernandez is 2-0 all-time against Anisimova with both wins coming in 2022 (second round of Indian Wells and fourth round of the French Open).
The match was not televised in Canada. TSN made the poor decision of broadcasting the match between Iga Swiatek of Poland versus Maria Sakkari of Greece instead. Let’s hope the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission is aware that TSN failed to provide Canadian content to Canadian viewers on Monday.
