Fernandez Rallies From 5-3 Down to Beat Mertens in Ningbo

Leylah Fernandez was one game from going out on the opening day of the Ningbo Open. The Canadian won the last four games instead, beating #7 Elise Mertens 2-6, 6-3, 7-5 to reach the second round of the WTA 500 event in eastern China.

Mertens arrived with form from Beijing, where she beat Iga Świątek earlier this month on her way to the China Open semifinals, and the first set followed it. She took it 6-2, picking up where she left off in their previous meeting, a 6-2, 6-2 win in the first round in Dubai in February 2025.