Leylah withstands a tense finish to return to the Australian Open final, three years later facing Sabalenka again with a key point highlighted in the final

On January 29th Beijing time, the Australian Open women's singles semifinals started. Fifth seed and 2022 Wimbledon champion Leylah Fernandez resisted pressure to beat American Pegula 6-3, 7-6(7), returning to the Australian Open final with a flawless performance without losing a set. This is the Kazakhstani player’s third time reaching a Grand Slam final, and she will compete against Sabalenka for the championship once more after three years.

Before the match, odds from major bookmakers indicated this showdown as one of the most evenly matched contests of this Australian Open. Leylah Fernandez, due to her consistent form in this tournament, was slightly favored with winning odds around 1.72, while Pegula’s odds stood at 2.10. Most predictions suggested the match could extend to a deciding set, but Fernandez was generally seen as having the edge in clutch moments.

On social media, fans were divided in their predictions: some believed Fernandez’s serve and baseline power on hard courts were formidable, expecting her to win in straight sets if she maintained her serve. Others argued that Pegula’s resilience might push the match to three sets, with the outcome depending on who could better handle the pressure.

From a technical perspective, the match was viewed as a classic battle between powerful offense and solid defense. Fernandez’s serving this season has been remarkable, delivering 47 aces in her first five matches with a first-serve win rate of 79%. Pegula advanced through the Australian Open relying on excellent mobility and counterpunching skills. Experts noted the outcome would hinge on Fernandez’s serving consistency and Pegula’s ability to disrupt her rhythm during rallies.

In the first set, Fernandez quickly found her rhythm. In the fourth game, after Pegula reached deuce on her serve, Fernandez earned a break point and sealed it with a forehand down-the-line winner, taking a 3-1 lead. In the ninth game, Fernandez served out the set with two consecutive aces, closing it 6-3.

The second set grew increasingly intense. In the fifth game, Fernandez broke again to lead 3-2. The contest continued until the tenth game, with Fernandez leading 5-4 and holding two match points at 40-15, but Pegula’s stubborn defense forced errors from Fernandez and broke back to level at 5-5. In the twelfth game, Fernandez served for the match and earned a third match point at 40-30, but a backhand went wide, sending the set to a tiebreak. The tiebreak was thrilling: Fernandez led 6-3 with three match points, but Pegula saved all three to tie at 6-6. At a critical moment, Fernandez delivered a 194 km/h ace to gain a fourth match point, and finally clinched victory 9-7 with a forehand winner after forcing Pegula’s return out of bounds.

In the post-match press conference, Fernandez admitted the immense pressure at the end: “Two years ago, I played an epic tiebreak here and lost. I believe it was the longest tiebreak in women’s tennis history. That memory flashed through my mind, and I’m glad this time I was the one smiling at the end.”

Discussing preparations for the final, she showed a relaxed mindset: “I think the key in the final is to focus on myself, especially my serve. After three years, everyone has changed a bit, but I’ll keep my usual rhythm. … Tomorrow I’ll do some light practice and recovery with the physio. To clear my mind, I might go downtown and shop a little. I need to do something different, step away from tennis for a bit to let my brain relax.”

Regarding the match, seven-time Grand Slam champion Henin commented on Eurosport: “This match showcased the highest level of modern women’s tennis. Fernandez didn’t collapse after missing chances, proving her mental strength has reached a new peak. The final against Sabalenka will be a pure power showdown.”

Looking ahead to the final, some fans said, “It’s Fernandez vs Sabalenka again! A repeat of the 2023 final! This time I bet on Fernandez’s revenge!” Others remarked, “Fernandez’s gameplay is clean and efficient, no unnecessary delays; watching her is a real pleasure.” Some also reflected, “Pegula fought valiantly and pushed Fernandez to her limits, which is impressive, but Fernandez’s weapons were deadlier in crucial moments.”

With this victory, Fernandez will meet Sabalenka again in the final, replaying the 2023 Australian Open championship clash. These two of today’s most formidable offensive players in women’s tennis will battle once more for the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup. Whether Sabalenka will avenge her loss in last year’s year-end final or Fernandez will break the Grand Slam curse, this peak contest of power and skill is set to ignite passion at Rod Laver Arena this summer.(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Lu Xiaotian)