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Canadian Leylah Annie Fernandez wins qualifying opener

NEW YORK – Canada’s Leylah Annie Fernandez upset No. 2 qualifying seed Anna Blinkova of Russia 6-1, 6-4 in the opening round of qualifying for the Western & Southern Open on Thursday.

The 17-year-old Fernandez, ranked 111th, held serve the entire match against the 62nd-ranked Blinkova, facing just one break point.

Players need to win two qualifying matches to earn a guaranteed spot in the main draw of the U.S. Open tuneup event.

The tournament usually is held in Cincinnati, but has been moved to the same site as the U.S. Open this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fernandez, from Laval, Que., will face No. 97 Kristie Ahn of the United States in the final round of qualifying on Friday.

Fernandez is the lone Canadian woman in the U.S. Open field.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 20, 2020.

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