Montreal’s Leylah Fernandez advances in WTA tournament in Mexico City

Montreal’s Leylah Fernandez beat American Elizabeth Mandlik after a slow start in the match in the WTA 125 Abierto Tampico tournament in Mexico City Tuesday.

The third-seeded Canadian racked up five aces in the match that lasted just under two hours, including a decisive one with the score tied 40-40 in the final game.

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Fernandez took the first set 7-6 (8) in a tight battle and cinched the victory with a 6 -2 win in the second set.

She advances to the 16th round where she faces China’s Xiaodi You.

Earlier in the evening, fellow Montrealer Eugenie Bouchard suffered a heartbreaking loss to Mexico’s Renata Zarazua.

The 28-year-old Canadian led 4-1 in the first set but lost 7-5. She then bounced back with a convincing 6-1 victory in the second set but gave up 7-5 in the third set to lose the match.