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Laval's Leylah Fernandez upsets 4-seed Rybakina to advance at Cincinnati Open

Canada's Leylah Fernandez is into the third round at the Cincinnati Open after upsetting four-seed Elena Rybakina from Kazakhstan. (Chris Young, The Canadian Press) Canada's Leylah Fernandez is into the third round at the Cincinnati Open after upsetting four-seed Elena Rybakina from Kazakhstan. (Chris Young, The Canadian Press)
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Laval's Leylah Fernandez battled a hard three sets to upset four-seed Elena Rybakina 3-6; 7-6; 6-4 at the Cincinnati Open on Thursday.

The diminutive southpaw looked destined for a straight set out in the second set when she blew a five-games-to-three lead to have the six-foot Kazakhstani roar back to take a 6-5 lead.

Fernandez dug in, however, and fended off two match points to break Rybakina and tie the set before winning the tiebreak 7-3.

Fernandez won the third set to book a spot in the round of 16.

Fernadez had to fight through Rybakina's stellar serve where she converted 20 aces.

The 21-year-old Fernandez is ranked 26th in the world. 

It is the first win over a top-five opponent for Fernandez since she shocked the field at the 2021 U.S. Open to reach the final. 

Next up is National Bank Open finalist Diana Shnaider of Russia.

- With files from The Canadian Press

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