By Canadian Press

Canada’s Leylah Fernandez moves in semifinals at Jiangxi Open in China

Oct 20, 2023 | 8:38 AM

NANCHANG, China — Canadian tennis player Leylah Fernandez moved closer to her second straight WTA Tour title Friday with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Aliaksandra Sasnovich in quarterfinal action at the Jiangxi Open.

The 22-year-old had four aces and broke her Belarusian opponent four times on seven chances as she increased her winning streak to eight matches.

Fernandez will face Czechia’s Katerina Siniakova in Saturday’s semifinals. It’s a rematch of the final of last week’s Hong Kong Open, which Fernandez won in three sets to claim her first title in 19 months.

The Laval, Que., product had to play two matches Friday due to Thursday’s wet weather in Nanchang. She beat Chinese qualifier You Xiaodi 6-4, 6-1 to advance to the quarters.

A U.S. Open finalist in 2021, Fernandez has struggled with injuries and consistency in recent months, but has shown a return to form of late.

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She entered the Jiangxi Open ranked 43rd in the world, up from 60th entering the Hong Kong Open.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 20, 2023.

The Canadian Press