Post by : Maya Rahman

Canada’s No. 2 seed Leylah Fernandez continued her impressive run at the Hong Kong Tennis Open with a strong 6-4, 6-2 victory over Germany’s Eva Lys on Wednesday. The 22-year-old displayed solid form, winning her match in just 68 minutes. Fernandez’s serve remained steady throughout, as she faced only one break point in the entire match. Her sharp returns and quick footwork kept her opponent under pressure from start to finish.

With this win, Fernandez moves into the quarterfinals where she will face No. 7 seed Sorana Cirstea of Romania. Cirstea had to fight hard for her place in the next round, rallying to defeat Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic 4-6, 6-4, 6-3. The match showcased Cirstea’s determination and experience, especially after losing the first set. The upcoming quarterfinal between Fernandez and Cirstea promises to be an exciting battle between two talented players known for their aggressive baseline play.

Spain’s Cristina Bucsa also advanced to the quarterfinals after knocking out No. 8 seed Emiliana Arango of Colombia 6-2, 6-4. Bucsa’s consistent game and steady serving allowed her to dominate both sets. Meanwhile, Australia’s Maya Joint continued her strong performance, defeating Slovakia’s Viktoria Morvayova 6-1, 6-4 to book her place among the final eight. These results confirm a competitive lineup as the tournament enters its final stages.

Over in Jiujiang, China, second-seeded Viktorija Golubic of Switzerland battled her way into the Jiangxi Open quarterfinals with a thrilling 6-0, 4-6, 7-5 victory over Russia’s Elena Pridankina. The match lasted two hours and 42 minutes and included a combined 13 double faults between the players. Despite the long contest, Golubic showed incredible resilience, saving 24 of 29 break points and converting eight of her 16 opportunities.

In contrast, Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putintseva enjoyed a much easier outing. The No. 5 seed cruised past China’s Wushuang Zheng 6-2, 6-0 in just 64 minutes. Putintseva will now face Golubic in what promises to be a fascinating clash between endurance and speed. Germany’s Tamara Korpatsch also advanced after a comeback 3-6, 6-0, 6-1 victory over compatriot Ella Seidel, while Austria’s Lilli Tagger stunned Italy’s Elisabetta Cocciaretto 6-4, 6-2 to earn her spot in the next round.

After two days of rain delays, play finally began at the Chennai Open in India. Top-seeded Zeynep Sonmez of Turkey opened her campaign with a hard-fought 7-5, 6-4 victory against Russia’s Tatiana Prozorova. Sonmez maintained her composure despite a slow start, showing her quality in key points. The long-awaited return to play brought energy and excitement to local fans eager to see live tennis again.

Japan’s Mei Yamaguchi held a 5-7, 6-0, 1-0 lead when her opponent, No. 2 seed Francesca Jones of England, retired due to injury. Poland’s Katarzyna Kawa delivered one of the tournament’s biggest surprises by knocking out No. 5 seed Lucia Bronzetti of Italy. Meanwhile, No. 3 seed Donna Vekic from Croatia easily overcame India’s Vaishnavi Adkar 6-1, 6-2, advancing comfortably to the next round.

Indonesia’s Janice Tjen, the No. 4 seed, battled through a tough three-set match against Germany’s Caroline Werner, eventually winning 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-2. In another exciting encounter, Australia’s No. 7 seed Kimberly Birrell fought back from a poor start to defeat Czech teenager Nikola Bartunkova 1-6, 6-1, 6-3. Both players demonstrated strong mental focus and endurance to secure their wins.

This week’s WTA events have highlighted the growing depth in women’s tennis, with several young players delivering breakthrough performances. Fernandez’s dominance, Golubic’s determination, and Sonmez’s solid start all show how competitive the global circuit has become. As each tournament heads into the quarterfinals, fans can look forward to intense matchups featuring both established stars and emerging talents.

With the Hong Kong, Jiangxi, and Chennai tournaments now in full swing, the stage is set for a thrilling weekend of women’s tennis. Leylah Fernandez’s confident form has made her one of the favorites to claim the title in Hong Kong. Meanwhile, players like Golubic and Putintseva continue to push forward in China, and Sonmez aims to bring home another trophy for Turkey. The global tennis spotlight shines brightly on these talented women as they chase championship glory.