Leylah Fernandez Eliminated by Rybakina at Pan Pacific Open

URGENT UPDATE: In a stunning second-round match at the Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo, Canada’s Leylah Fernandez has been eliminated by Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan, the tournament’s second seed. The match concluded with Rybakina triumphing in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3, in just 1 hour and 28 minutes.

This defeat marks a significant setback for Fernandez, who had recently clinched the Japan Open title in Osaka, marking her fifth career singles victory. The 23-year-old from Laval faced a formidable opponent in Rybakina, currently ranked 7th in the world, who never trailed during the match and only dropped serve once.

Rybakina’s victory propels her into the quarterfinals, where she will now face Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko. Mboko, only 19 years old, made headlines earlier this year by defeating Rybakina in the semifinals of the National Bank Open in Montreal, where she emerged as the champion as a wild-card entry.

In addition to Fernandez’s singles exit, Canadian duo Mboko and Bianca Andreescu also faced disappointment in the women’s doubles quarterfinals. They were narrowly defeated by Spain’s Christina Bucsa and Japan’s Shuko Aoyama in a hard-fought match that ended with a score of 6-4, 7-6 (3), 10-8.

The elimination of Fernandez in such a high-stakes tournament highlights the intense competition Canadian players face on the international stage. Fans are now eagerly watching as Mboko prepares for her next clash against Rybakina, igniting hopes for another thrilling matchup.

Stay tuned for more updates as this tournament progresses and as Canadian athletes continue to showcase their skills on the global tennis scene.