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Fernandez downs Gibson to claim Singapore Open crown / Photo: Roslan RAHMAN - AFP
Fernandez downs Gibson to claim Singapore Open crown
Leylah Fernandez notched her first WTA title in nearly a year on Sunday, overcoming a shaky start against Australia's Talia Gibson to win the Singapore Open final 7-5, 6-0.
The world number 31 faced a set point against the unseeded Australian but held her nerve, going on to win nine consecutive games in the WTA 500 tournament at OCBC Arena.
It was the 24-year-old Canadian's first title since the Japan Open in October and the sixth WTA title of her career.
Fernandez reached the final after downing top seed Mirra Andreeva in the quarter-finals and coming from a set down to beat 25th-ranked Maja Chwalinska in the semis.
Gibson was appearing in her first career WTA final and held her own during the early stages of the match, twice recovering from service breaks and setting up set point at 5-4 on Fernandez's serve.
But the Canadian dug deep to hold before wearing down Gibson and taking the opener 7-5.
The second set was no contest as Gibson committed a number of unforced errors and dropped her first three service games.
With Fernandez serving for the match, she put a return into the net to hand the Canadian the title.
U.Neumann--BlnAP
