OSAKA, Japan (Oct. 19) — Canada’s Leylah Fernandez captured her second title of the year on Sunday, overcoming a determined challenge from Czech teenager Tereza Valentova 6-0, 5-7, 6-3 to win the Japan Open in Osaka.

The 23-year-old, ranked No. 27 in the world, added to her DC Open triumph in Washington in July to claim the fifth WTA title of her career. The victory marks the first time Fernandez has lifted multiple trophies in a single season — a milestone that underscores her growing consistency on the tour.

Fernandez came out firing in the final, dictating play with her trademark aggression and precision from the baseline. Despite wearing heavy strapping on her right thigh, she showed no signs of discomfort as she raced through the opening set in just 25 minutes, breaking Valentova three times to take it 6-0.

Valentova, 18, ranked No. 78 and appearing in her first WTA final, looked overwhelmed early but responded with poise and maturity in the second set. The young Czech began to find her rhythm, mixing up pace and angles to disrupt Fernandez’s tempo. After trading early breaks, Valentova edged ahead late in the set and forced a deciding third when Fernandez sent a forehand long on set point.

The deciding set saw Fernandez regain control with a mix of tactical patience and powerful shot-making. The Canadian broke for a 3-1 lead and maintained her composure as Valentova fought to stay in the match. Fernandez sealed victory after two hours and six minutes when her opponent’s return clipped the net and fell short, prompting a relieved fist pump and smile from the Canadian.

“This one means a lot,” Fernandez said after the match. “It’s been a long year, and I’m really proud of how I stayed composed, especially after losing that second set. Tereza played incredibly well — she’s got a big future ahead of her.”

For Valentova, the defeat marked a bittersweet end to a breakthrough week in Osaka. The teenager upset several higher-ranked players en route to the final, including a straight-sets win over third seed Lin Zhu, and will climb further in the rankings after her impressive run.

The Japan Open saw several notable withdrawals, including top seed and former world No. 1 Naomi Osaka, who pulled out ahead of her quarter-final match after failing to recover from a leg injury. Osaka’s absence cleared the path for Fernandez to assume the role of tournament favorite, a pressure she handled with maturity and resilience.

With the win, Fernandez will carry strong momentum into next week’s Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo, where she is scheduled to face fellow Canadian Victoria Mboko in the first round.

Now five titles into her young career, Fernandez continues to build on the promise that took her to the 2021 U.S. Open final, reaffirming her place among the sport’s rising stars.