OSAKA, Japan — Leila Fernandez defeated 18-year-old qualifier Tereza Valentova 6-0, 5-7, 6-3 in the WTA Japan Open final on Sunday for her fifth career title.
Playing in his eighth career final, the one-time US Open runner-up won the first set in 29 minutes, and Valentova held her nerve in the second, finding a way to break Fernandez in the 12th game to equalize.
In the deciding set, Fernandes, ranked 27th in the rankings, made a decisive break in the fourth game and fought off a late challenge from the Czech player, winning his second title of the season after winning the WTA500 DC Open in July.