Leylah Fernandez of Canada plays a backhand return to Alize Cornet of France during their first round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
MELBOURNE, Australia – Leylah Annie Fernandez shook off some rust and early jitters before she settled down and bounced Alize Cornet 7-5, 6-2 in first-round women’s single action at the Australian Open on Monday night.
The 20-year-old Montreal athlete trailed 2-0 and 3-1 in the first set before finding her groove en route to a 55-minute, 7-5 victory over her 32-year-old rival from Nice, France.
It took less time for Fernandez to win the second set, as she appeared to get stronger during the match while her competitor stalled after a strong first set.
Fernandez had 24 service winners, one ace, no double faults and 19 unforced errors, most of them in the first half of the first set. Cornet had two aces, 26 unforced errors and six double faults.
Katherine Sebov of Toronto, excited to be making her Grand Slam debut in Melbourne Park, was eliminated from the tournament in 65 minutes Monday night.
The Canadian qualifier, who had the difficult task of playing fourth-ranked Caroline Garcia of France – the 2022 WTA singles champion – as her opening act on the big stage, lost 6-3, 6-0 at Rod Laver Arena.
Sebov had 13 unforced errors, no aces, two double faults and only one backhand winner in the match. Garcia had five aces, 17 winners and pretty much dominated all other statistical categories.
Sebov, who turned 24 on Jan. 5 and came in at a career-high No. 191 in the WTA Tour rankings, said she was excited to play Garcia, noting before the match: “I have a game plan, and I think I have a good chance to give her a bad day.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 16, 2023.
