Gabriel Diallo secures ATP Challenger title in Bratislava, making it three trophies for Canadians
[TORONTO, ON] – October 15, 2023 – Leylah Annie Fernandez clinched her third WTA title on Sunday by defeating Kateřina Siniaková 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 in the final of the Hong Kong Open, a 250-level tournament.
Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe also claimed success, winning the WTA 500 Zhengzhou Open in doubles with a comprehensive 6-2, 6-4 victory over Shuko Aoyama and Ena Shibahara.
For Fernandez, this victory marks her first title since March 2022 and her first appearance in a final in almost two years. She faced pressure early on from her experienced opponent but managed to turn the match around and secure the win. This is her third career title and the first one outside of Monterrey. It is also her first singles final outside of North America.
Despite Siniaková winning more points overall and having more break opportunities, Fernandez displayed resilience and consistency in her serve, keeping her Czech opponent at bay.
In the first set, Siniaková took advantage of Fernandez’s serve and managed to break twice. However, Fernandez fought back in the second set with her strong defensive play and broke Siniaková’s serve twice, leading to a decisive third set. The final set saw both players exchanging breaks, with Fernandez eventually coming out on top, winning the match in the 10th game.
With this win, Fernandez is expected to rise in the WTA Rankings, potentially re-entering the Top 50.
In doubles, Dabrowski and Routliffe continued their impressive form by claiming the title at the Zhengzhou Open. They dominated the final, breaking their opponents’ serve four times and saving five of six break points. With this victory, they are in contention for a qualifying spot at the WTA Finals.
Finally, Gabriel Diallo concluded an excellent Sunday for Canadians by winning the ATP Challenger Tour Bratislava Open. He defeated Joris De Loore with a score of 6-0, 7-5. This victory is Diallo’s biggest accomplishment so far in his professional career, adding to his previous titles in East Lansing, Granby National Bank Challenger, and the ITF Men’s World Tennis Tour event in Montreal.
