Leylah Fernandez spent two days dissecting one opponent91裸聊视频檚 game and had to pivot quickly before hitting Centre Court on home soil on Wednesday.

Fernandez was originally scheduled to face China91裸聊视频檚 Zhang Shuai in the first round of the National Bank Open at Toronto91裸聊视频檚 Sobeys Stadium, but the WTA Tour91裸聊视频檚 63rd-ranked player was scratched because of a viral illness and replaced by Japan91裸聊视频檚 Nao Hibino on short notice.

Despite a roller-coaster performance, Fernandez handled that curveball to advance and secure a spot in the second round of Canada91裸聊视频檚 national tennis championship, defeating Hibino 6-3, 5-7, 6-1.

91裸聊视频淚 found out about the change around 4:30 (p.m.),91裸聊视频� said the tournament91裸聊视频檚 15th seed, who faced Hibino some 2 1/2 hours later. 91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檇 just spent a good amount, like 48 hours, of analyzing.

91裸聊视频淏ut a change of opponent happens 91裸聊视频� it91裸聊视频檚 last minute 91裸聊视频� we91裸聊视频檝e just got to go with the flow.91裸聊视频�

The 21-year-old Laval, Que., product improved to 4-1 against Hibino after the win.

Fernandez started brightly and blasted her second ace of the match to close out the first set.

She was serving for the match and two points away from victory before Hibino (No. 151) pushed back to take a nervy, back-and-forth second set 7-5 that was starting to look eerily similar to Bianca Andreescu91裸聊视频檚 meltdown some 24 hours earlier on the same surface.

91裸聊视频淭here was a big dip and I guess I gave her confidence,91裸聊视频� said Fernandez, the No. 25 player in the world. 91裸聊视频淚 wasn91裸聊视频檛 the one that was offensive, the aggressor 91裸聊视频� she was. That was a big difference.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 a set that I would like to forget.91裸聊视频�

Fernandez, who made the third round of last year91裸聊视频檚 NBO in Montreal, settled down and went up an early break in the third set to take a 2-1 lead after digging out of a hole on serve the previous game.

The U.S. Open finalist in 2021 then broke her opponent again with a sliced drop shot for a 4-1 lead before securing a third break to seal the win.

Next up is qualifier Ashlyn Krueger (No. 82) of the U.S. in Thursday91裸聊视频檚 second round. The pair91裸聊视频檚 only head-to-head came in June on grass at the Rothesay International when the Canadian picked up an emphatic 6-2, 6-1 victory.

91裸聊视频淚 didn91裸聊视频檛 play too well,91裸聊视频� Fernandez said in summarizing Wednesday91裸聊视频檚 performance. 91裸聊视频淭oo many mistakes.91裸聊视频�

Marina Stakusic of Mississauga, Ont., joined her compatriot in the second round after the 19-year-old came back to defeat Russia91裸聊视频檚 Erika Andreeva 6-7 (5), 6-1, 6-4 in her first NBO main-draw appearance.

Stakusic, who entered the week ranked 160th, will face Taylor Townsend on Thursday.

The 71st-ranked American lost in qualifying, but earned a spot in the women91裸聊视频檚 bracket as an injury replacement before first-round opponent and No. 16 seed Dayana Yastremska retired in Tuesday91裸聊视频檚 second set with Townsend up 6-3, 3-1.

Vancouver91裸聊视频檚 Rebecca Marino, meanwhile, lost her first-round match 6-3, 6-4 to Poland91裸聊视频檚 Magda Linette on Wednesday.

In other notable action at the US$3.2-million women91裸聊视频檚 event that saw a boatload of withdrawals last week 91裸聊视频� including the top-ranked Iga Swiatek 91裸聊视频� defending champion and No. 3 seed Jessica Pegula of the U.S. beat Czechia91裸聊视频檚 Karolina Pliskova 7-5, 6-4 to advanced to the third round.

Former world No. 1 Naomi Osaka of Japan defeated No. 9 seed Ons Jabeur of Tunisia 6-3, 6-1. No. 1 seed Coco Gauff of the U.S. and No. 2 seed Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus will hit the court for their second-round matches Thursday.

The first Canadian to win the event in 55 years back in 2019, Andreescu was eliminated Tuesday night after the Mississauga native dropped her first-round match 0-6, 6-3, 6-4 to Ukraine91裸聊视频檚 Lesia Tsurenko.

Stakusic, who grew up attending the Toronto leg of the event and got a spot in the draw as a wild card, envisioned herself on this stage as a kid.

91裸聊视频淚t was really nice to see everybody cheering,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淚t was amazing just to have the support.91裸聊视频�

Fernandez, meanwhile, will have a busy Thursday.

She91裸聊视频檚 also set to compete in doubles with younger sister Bianca in the second round against the American duo of Krueger 91裸聊视频� her singles opponent hours earlier 91裸聊视频� and Catherine Harrison.

91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 just happy that I get to share the court with her,91裸聊视频� Fernandez said of playing alongside Bianca. 91裸聊视频淗opefully, it goes well and we get to continue this adventure.91裸聊视频�

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 7, 2024.

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Joshua Clipperton, The Canadian Press