Filipino-Canadian Leylah Fernandez rules Japan Open

Filpino-Canadian tennis player Leylah Fernandez toppled teen sensation Tereza Valentova in three sets, 6-0, 5-7, 6-3, to capture the Kinoshita Group Japan Open title at the Utsubo Tennis Center in Osaka on Oct. 19 on Sunday.

The win marks Fernandez’s fifth WTA title and her second title of the 2025 season, following her Washington Open win last July. She also became the first Filipino and Canadian to win the tournament.

Valentova, who is one of tennis’s rising stars, was also the player who toppled Filipino Alex Eala in the Round of 32 on Oct. 14.

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🏆 Fifth career title
🇨🇦 First Canadian to win Osaka@leylahfernandez 👏#JapanOpen pic.twitter.com/QfEyHyeC8x

— wta (@WTA) October 19, 2025

The Fil-Canadian got off to a thunderous start after capturing the first set, 6-0, in less than 30 minutes.

Valentova showed why the hype around her was deserved after showing his resilienmcy in the second set, punishing Fernandez’s mistakes to force a decide, 7-5.

The game boiled down to stamina and eventually experience as Fernandez broke early and then outgunned the young star en route to the championship, 6-3.

“First of all, congratulations, Tereza, you played amazing. Thank you to my team for suffering with me this past week, past month, and past year. Without your sacrifices and support, I wouldn’t be here today,” Fernandez said postgame.

The lefty improved to world No. 22 in the rankings and will stay in Japan to compete in the Toray Pan Pacific Open against Maria Sakkari.

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