Leylah Fernandez advances to quarter-finals at Monterrey Open with 3-set victory

Canadian Leylah Fernandez punched her ticket to the quarter-finals of the Monterrey Open by defeating China's Zheng Qinwen 6-1, 4-6, 7-6 (3) in a thriller under the lights on Wednesday night.

Currently ranked 21st in the WTA world rankings, the 19-year-old Canadian is looking to repeat as champion at the Mexican WTA tour event.

After swiftly making her way through the first set, Frenandez struggled in the second. The Laval, Que., native gave up breakpoints, leading to a third set that she ultimately won in a tiebreaker.

Fernandez finished with a 65 per cent to 47 per cent edge in first serves put in play, and she saved five of the six break points she faced. Neither player managed a service break in the third set.

WATCH | Leylah Fernandez wins 3-set thriller against Zheng Qinwen:

With her win, the second-seeded Fernandez moves on to play the winner of Thursday's match between China's Qiang Wang and Egypt's Mayar Sherif  — two unseeded players. 

The Monterrey Open is the first singles tournament for Fernandez since bowing out of the Australian Open earlier this season, as she looks to regain the form that she showed last season with her win in Monterrey, the first WTA victory of her career, and run to the U.S. Open final. 

Also advancing to the quarter-finals were fourth-seeded Sara Sorribes Tormo of Spain, fifth-seeded Camila Osorio of Colombia and Brazil's Beatriz Haddad Maia, all straight-set winners.