Tennis: Fernandez dominates Kalinskaya to win DC Open - Omni sports
The 22-year-old bagged the first WTA 500 victory of her career and her first title since 2023 to win 6-1, 6-2 in just over an hour.
The win completed a fairytale week for Fernandez, the 2021 US Open finalist who had beaten top seed Jessica Pegula and former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina on her way to the fourth title of her career.
Fernandez said she had grown in belief throughout her campaign.
"In the beginning of the tournament (there) was still a lot of doubt, but as the tournament progressed, I was starting to play better," Fernandez said.
"I have gone through so many different challenges this week. I think it has just made me stronger in a way, that if I can get through this week -- through the cramps, through the long matches, through the heat and humidity -- I can get through anything."
Fernandez got off to a blistering start, dominating Kalinskaya's serve to take the opening set in just 30 minutes.
After three holds left Fernandez 2-1 up, the breakthrough came in the fourth game with Kalinskaya's serve looking increasingly vulnerable.
The Russian was soon in trouble at 15-40 down, and then double-faulted to hand Fernandez the break and a 3-1 lead.
Fernandez was having no such difficulty on serve and held comfortably for a 4-1 lead before going on to attack Kalinskaya's serve in the sixth game.
The Canadian held two break points at 15-40 and duly converted the second for a 5-1 lead, lasering a backhand return to leave Kalinskaya rooted to the spot.
A delicate drop shot at the net gave Fernandez the set in the next game.
The second set mirrored the first, with Fernandez grabbing an early break to seize the initiative at 2-1 before breaking again soon afterwards for a 4-1 lead.
The next two games went with serve but Fernandez made no mistake when serving for the match, converting the second of two match points.
Fernandez will head to Canada for this week's WTA 1000 Canadian Open in Montreal, where she is anticipating a tougher test.
"Montreal is a whole different monster," she said. "It's a bigger draw, longer tournament. It's going to be start from zero."
(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)
Follow us on:
Short link:
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al-Ahram Weekly
2 hours ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Handball: Egypt U-19 outclass South Korea 47-27 in World Championship opener - Omni sports
Egypt's U-19 handball team started their IHF World Championship campaign in style after defeating South Korea 47-27 in the competition's opener in Cairo on Wednesday. The hosts dominated from the outset, taking a 20-12 lead into halftime before extending their advantage with a one-sided second half to seal a 20-goal win. Egypt are drawn in Group G alongside Bahrain and Japan. They will face Bahrain on Thursday as they look to secure early qualification for the main round. The U-19 World Championship is being held in Egypt from August 6 to 17. A vibrant opening ceremony was held before the match, celebrating Egypt's cultural heritage with artistic and musical performances that delighted the attending delegations. The event was attended by Egypt's Minister of Youth and Sports Ashraf Sobhi, IHF President Hassan Moustafa, senior officials from the International Handball Federation, and members of the Egyptian Handball Federation board. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.) Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Al-Ahram Weekly
3 hours ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Ahly winger Reda Slim joins Moroccan side AS FAR on loan - Egyptian Football
Ahly's Moroccan winger Reda Slim has returned to his former club AS FAR on loan, the Moroccan side confirmed on Wednesday. The 25-year-old joined Ahly in the summer of 2023 from AS FAR but struggled to make an impact due to recurring injuries that kept him sidelined for much of the season. He made 44 appearances for the Egyptian giants, scoring five goals and providing three assists. Slim was excluded from Ahly's list in January to make space for the arrival of Serbian striker Nejc Gradisar, as the club had reached the maximum quota of five foreign players. Ahly's current foreign contingent includes Moroccan duo Achraf Dari and Achraf Bencharki, Malian midfielder Aliou Dieng, and Tunisian international Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.) Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Al-Ahram Weekly
4 hours ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Zamalek coach Ferrera unfazed by negative friendly results ahead of new season - Egyptian Football
Zamalek's new coach Yannick Ferrera remained calm over the team's poor results in pre-season friendlies, emphasizing that the outcomes are not important at this stage of preparation. The White Knights played six friendly matches as they geared up for the new season but their performances were underwhelming. They suffered defeats to newly promoted Wadi Degla (1-0) and second-tier side Proxy (3-1), raising doubts about the team's prospects ahead of the league opener on Friday 8 August. Zamalek are looking to bounce back after a disappointing 2024/25 campaign, finishing third in the Egyptian Premier League and exiting in the quarter-finals of the CAF Confederation Cup. 'I am not worried about the team's results in friendly games,' Ferrera told a news conference on Wednesday. 'Fans should not be worried either, as we are trying to implement new tactics that require time.' The Belgian coach, who took charge in early July, said he needed more time to properly prepare the squad. 'I have been in charge for only four weeks, while the usual preparation phase is six weeks. I hoped for more time, but that's the same for all teams.' 'Things will not change overnight, but I promise we will fight fiercely in every game and learn from our mistakes.' 'It's impossible to start the season at 100%, but we will do our best to reach the right form as quickly as possible.' On the nine new signings this summer, the 44-year-old said it was too early to assess their abilities and stressed that the media are not the place for player evaluations. Ferrera also said he had no new information on Ceramica Cleopatra, who host Zamalek in the league opener in Suez, but noted he had studied many of their games last season. 'We are at the start of the season, so my knowledge of Ceramica Cleopatra is from last season. They are a good team, but we are determined to make a strong start,' he concluded. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.) Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
