Leylah Fernandez of Canada plays a forehand return to Janice Tjen of Indonesia during their first round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin)

By The Canadian Press

Canada’s Fernandez cruises into third round at Charleston with win over Kudermetova

Apr 1, 2026 | 2:07 PM

HILTON HEAD — Canada’s Leylah Fernandez cruised into the third round of the Charleston Open tennis tournament with a 6-2, 6-1 win over Uzbekistan’s Polina Kudermetova on Wednesday.

Fernandez, seeded ninth at the WTA 500 hardcourt event, converted four of her nine break chances while defending all three break points she faced to wrap up the match in one hour and 15 minutes.

The 23-year-old from Laval, Que., is looking to go on a run in South Carolina after a tough start to the season. She entered the event with a 3-8 record.

Also Wednesday, Bianca Andreescu of Mississauga, Ont., dropped a 6-4, 6-4 decision to 16th-seeded American Sofia Kenin.

Andreescu opened the tournament with a 1-6, 6-4, 6-1 win over Hungary’s Dalma Galfi. It was the first WTA Tour main-draw win of the season for the former world No. 4.

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Fernandez will next face seventh seed Diana Shnaider. They have split their previous four meetings, but the 21-year-old Russian has won the last two.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 1, 2026.

The Canadian Press