Fernandez Saves Match Points to Shock Rybakina in Cincinnati

Photo : Tyler Anderson/Tennis Canada

Leylah Annie Fernandez is no stranger to comeback wins, but what she did against Elena Rybakina on Thursday in Cincinnati was something else.

A day after rallying from a set and a break down against Yue Yuan, the Canadian did it again against the world No. 4, this time saving a pair of match points on the Kazakhstani’s serve at 6-5, 40-15 in the second set before going on to steal the match in three sets.

It was hardly a clean performance from either woman, but Rybakina faded as the match went along. Fernandez took advantage of some sluggish service games in the third set to nab a 3-6, 7-6(3), 6-4 win, her first over a Top 5 player since the 2021 US Open.

Fernandez was able to take advantage of inconsistency from the former Wimbledon champion, who had 17 double faults and 50 unforced errors, to break serve six times on 17 break point chances.

Considering that Rybakina is one of the best servers on tour and Fernandez herself is no slouch, it took half an hour for either woman to hold serve as the first four games went to the returner.

It was the Kazakhstani finding her range first as she held for 3-2. While Fernandez got her first hold on the board in the following game, Rybakina was cleaning up the errors that had cost her early in the set. Her big hitting began to dominate the rallies and she was able to score another break to go up 5-3.

This time, there was no answering from the Canadian. Rybakina went up 40-love serving for the set and not even a net cord could deny her as a backhand dropped in for a winner on the second set point.

Twice in the second set, Fernandez broke to take the lead but both times, Rybakina immediately broke back. The second of those breaks set the Canadian up to serve out the set at 5-3 but she played a poor game to let her opponent off the hook.

That kicked off a run of three straight games for Rybakina and she had the match on her racquet at 6-5, 40-15. But suddenly the world No. 4 dropped her level, hitting back-to-back double faults to throw away the match points and Fernandez broke to force a tiebreak.

Despite letting a minibreak slip away early, Fernandez won the last four points in the tiebreak in a row from 3-3 as Rybakina struggled to keep the ball in play. The world No. 4 double-faulted on set point to send the match to a decider.

Rybakina’s game continued to go downhill in the final set. She fell behind love-40 on serve in back-to-back games and while she bashed her way out of the jam the first time, she dumped a drop shot into the net on the second time of asking to go down 3-4.

For the first time all match, Fernandez was able to consolidate the break to move ahead 5-3. While Rybakina was able to hold to force the Canadian to serve for it, Fernandez had no issue finishing off the upset, closing it out to love.

Next up for Fernandez will be last week’s National Bank Open semifinalist Diana Shnaider.

Written By

Pete Borkowski