WIMBLEDON — Canada’s Leylah Fernandez cruised to a 6-1, 6-3 win over Great Britain’s Hannah Klugman in her first-round match at Wimbledon on Monday.
Fernandez, the 29th seed, dominated with 23 winners to 10 for the 16-year-old Klugman, ranked 573rd in the world.
The 22-year-old from Laval, Que., also converted five of six break point opportunities to win the match in one hour nine minutes.
Fernandez has never advanced past the second round at the All England Club.
Earlier Monday, Carson Branstine saw her Grand Slam debut end with a first-round loss to world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus, falling 6-1, 7-5.
Montreal’s Felix Auger-Aliassime (No. 25) was drawn against Australia’s James Duckworth, while Montreal’s Gabriel Diallo was scheduled to make his Wimbledon main-draw debut against Germany’s Daniel Altmaier.
Branstine, who was born in California but represents Canada through family ties in Toronto, fired seven aces and matched Sabalenka with 17 winners, but the Canadian committed 26 unforced errors and was unable to convert her lone breakpoint chance.
Still, Branstine found her rhythm in the second set, and Sabalenka took notice.
“In the first set, she didn’t serve great, but in the second, most of her serves were 120mph, which is crazy,” Sabalenka said. “I was lucky to break her in one game. Tough match, tough win.”
The 23-year-old Branstine, ranked 194th in the world, earned her spot through last week’s qualifying tournament at the All England Club.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 30, 2025.
The Canadian Press
