Tennis: Leylah Fernandez advances in Doha

DAY

Quebecer Leylah Annie Fernandez completed the first stage of qualifying for the Doha tournament on Saturday in Qatar. 

The seventh seed of the qualifying event defeated Italian Jasmine Paolini in straight sets 6-2, 6-4. This duel lasted only 72 minutes.

Fernandez, who is the 39th player in the WTA world ranking, won on serve. She had six aces and won 78% of rallies on her first face-off attempt.

The 20-year-old sensation also converted all four break points she offered herself, in addition to saving two of her rival's three break chances.

In the second round of qualifying, Fernandez will face the Ukrainian Dayana Yastremska. The two women have a date on Sunday.

Marino too

Fernandez was not the only Canadian to find success in the capital of Qatar . Indeed, Rebecca Marino defeated the Ukrainian in three sets of 6-3, 0-6 and 6-3.

Unlike her compatriot, the 32-year-old Ontarian had several difficulties with her service. She hit 46% of her first attempts, committed 10 double faults and was broken five times. However, she took the service of the 289th athlete on the world chessboard five times.

Marino now has an appointment with the Russian Aliaksandra Sasnovich.