Leylah Fernandez continues to roll in Japan.
The 23-year-old from Laval, Que., who won the Japan Open in Osaka on Sunday for her fifth career singles title, defeated Maria Sakkari of Greece in the opening round of the Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo on Monday night.
Fernandez took two hours two minutes to beat the 30-year-old qualifier 7-6 (5), 6-4.
The Canadian finished the match with two aces, one double fault, 47 unforced errors and 32 winners. Fernandez won 58 per cent of her first serve points and 50 per cent of second serve points.
She saved six of 11 break points and won six of 10 break points.
In a later match, Victoria Mboko of Toronto beat Bianca Andreescu of Mississauga 6-3, 6-3 in an all-Ontario battle. The match took 73 minutes to play.
Andreescu had 19 unforced errors, while Mboko had 18. Mboko had three double faults, one ace and 21 winners.
The Toronto teen won 77 per cent of first serve points and 50 per cent of second serve points. She won three of eight return games.
WATCH | Fernandez tops Czech Tereza Valentova to win Japan Open on Sunday:
Fernandez captures 5th WTA career title with victory at Japan Open
Leylah Fernandez of Laval, Que., is the champion at the Japan Open in Osaka defeating Tereza Valentova of Czech Republic 6-0, 5-7, 6-3.
Shapovalov into Round 2 at Swiss Indoors
Denis Shapovalov advanced to the second round of the Swiss Indoors tennis tournament with a 6-7 (3), 6-0, 7-6 (4) win over Marcos Giron of the United States.
The 26-year-old from Richmond Hill, Ont., overcame five double faults with 13 aces and converted five of his eight break-point chances.
Giron was not as opportunistic, as he only broke Shapovalov twice on seven opportunities.
Shapovalov, who is coming off a run to the semifinals at the Stockholm Open last week, improved his career record against Giron to 2-3.
The ninth seed in Basel will next face lucky loser Valentin Royer of France. Shapovalov defeated Royer earlier this year in the second round of the U.S. Open.
Wednesday’s action at the ATP 500 tournament features an all-Montreal showdown between fifth-seed Felix Auger-Aliassime and Gabriel Diallo.
