Defending champ Fernandez into Monterrey Open final for 2nd straight year

MONTERREY, Mexico — Canada's Leylah Annie Fernandez has punched her ticket to the final of the Monterrey Open for the second year in a row.

Fernandez's title defence remains alive after she defeated Brazil's Beatriz Haddad Maia 6-1, 6-4 in commanding fashion in the semifinal Saturday.

The match lasted one hour and 12 minutes. The 19-year-old from Laval, Que., needed just 22 minutes to win the first set.

Fernandez, the tournament's second seed, had three aces in the match and broke her opponent three times.

The Canadian started the match strong, winning the first nine points.

Fernandez returns to to the Monterrey Open final after winning the tournament last year – the first WTA title of her career.

She faces Colombia's Camila Osorio in the final.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 5, 2022.