Leylah Fernandez's Tokyo debut swept through, just one win away from the Finals, netizens say: "Xiaomi La's hopes are slim."

Leylah Fernandez's debut at the Tokyo 500 tournament has concluded! After the match, many people's first reaction was: "Xiaomi La" Andreyeva's last chance for the year-end Finals is almost certainly gone!

Before Leylah Fernandez appeared in Tokyo, due to her opponent Fernandez's recent inspiring comeback victory in this event, many outside observers were worried that at this crucial moment fighting for a Finals spot, facing such an opponent meant "Nana might be in serious trouble."

Furthermore, since Fernandez just won the Osaka 250 tournament and traveled directly to Tokyo as the reigning champion, this match against Leylah Fernandez was described by fans and viewers in the livestream as a "championship clash." The implication being both players entered as titleholders in good form, and everyone was eager to see who would ultimately prevail. Both the audience and Andreyeva herself were anticipating this match, as its outcome would directly decide her fate for the year-end Finals.

Once the two faced off, everything unfolded as predicted before the match: both Leylah Fernandez and Fernandez displayed excellent form, from the start of the first set through the seventh game, both employing strategic tactics to gain the upper hand.

Unfortunately, at a critical moment, Fernandez made a small mistake which led to her serve being broken first, allowing Leylah Fernandez to reach a commanding 5-3 lead in the opening set. The subsequent developments and the way Leylah Fernandez sealed the set surprised many, as she clinched the first set 6-4 in a tense break battle.

If the first set was a fierce fight to the death, then in the second set, it became clear that in terms of experience and current form, Fernandez was slightly behind.

Seeing Leylah Fernandez quickly take a perfect 3-0 lead with breaks and holds, fans and viewers in the livestream began teasing Andreyeva, saying, "Better prepare the tissues early to wipe away tears."

The former Wimbledon champion raised her level in the first set, making it impossible for Fernandez to find any opportunities on her serve. With Leylah Fernandez playing almost flawlessly, the Canadian player's chances of turning the match around were extremely slim.

When Leylah Fernandez closed the second set 6-3, many did not immediately sympathize with Fernandez or Andreyeva. Instead, they remarked that if the former Wimbledon champion had shown such form earlier in the season, she wouldn’t have faced such pressure competing with Andreyeva for the last year-end Finals spot, as she would have been confirmed by the WTA much earlier. This late but stable and excellent performance caused concern among her followers. Nonetheless, better late than never is still good news. Some even joked that perhaps the allure of the year-end Finals motivated Leylah Fernandez to deliver her best form exactly when she needed to prove herself.

Seeing Leylah Fernandez perform like this against a strong Fernandez, many fans and viewers are now less anxious about her upcoming match against another Canadian player, Mboko.

Many openly say that as long as Leylah Fernandez maintains her Tokyo debut form in the next round, Mboko's chances are quite slim.

Since winning the Montreal 1000 tournament this year, Mboko has suffered from a "1000 tournament champion syndrome," enduring a four-match losing streak until recently stopping it in Tokyo. She is clearly not on the same level as Leylah Fernandez, who has been on a six-match winning streak since the Ningbo 500 tournament.

Additionally, two key points emphasized in post-match summaries of Leylah Fernandez’s game against Fernandez are considered the main reasons why Mboko will find it difficult to stop the former Wimbledon champion from reaching the year-end Finals: first, this match showcased Leylah Fernandez playing at her peak, flowing smoothly and decisively throughout; second, the former Wimbledon champion’s clutch performance was breathtaking, consistently delivering winning shots at speeds up to 190 km/h on crucial points.

It was precisely these two strengths that allowed Leylah Fernandez to avenge her previous two defeats to the Canadian player, achieving sweet revenge at this critical moment in the fight for the last year-end Finals spot. Such a performance undoubtedly boosts Leylah Fernandez’s confidence and morale.

Although Leylah Fernandez’s outstanding form in her Tokyo debut has led many to believe Andreyeva’s hopes for the year-end Finals are fading, some supporters argue that as long as Leylah Fernandez does not defeat Mboko, "Xiaomi La’s hope remains, and we shouldn't count her out prematurely!"(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Moon River’s Starry Sky)