Fernandez beats Valentova to claim Japan Open title

VIDEO SHOWS: HIGHLIGHTS OF LEYLAH FERNANDEZ V TEREZA VALENTOVA FINAL MATCH AT THE WTA 250 JAPAN OPEN  COMPLETE SHOTLIST TO FOLLOW  SHOWS: OSAKA, JAPAN (OCTOBER 19, 2025) (WTA/DAZN – See restrictions) LEYLAH FERNANDEZ (CANADA/BLACK TOP AND SKIRT) V  TEREZA VALENTOVA (CZECH REPUBLIC/ YELLOW TOP) 6-0 5-7 6-3 STORY: Canada's Leylah Fernandez clinched her second title of the year, defeating Czech teenager Tereza Valentova 6-0 5-7 6-3 in a hard-fought Japan Open final on Sunday (October 19).  World number 27 Fernandez, who won the DC Open in July, secured her fifth career title in Osaka, marking the first time the 23-year-old has claimed two tournament victories in the same year.  Despite playing with heavy strapping on her right thigh, Fernandez dominated the opening set against Valentova, ranked 78th and making her debut in a WTA final. Valentova rallied in the second set but ultimately fell short, hitting a service return into the net to hand Fernandez the win in the deciding set. Meanwhile, Naomi Osaka, the Japan Open's top seed and former world number one, withdrew ahead of her quarter-final due to a leg injury. Fernandez is set to compete in next week's Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo, where she will face fellow Canadian Victoria Mboko in the opening round. (Production: Suramya Kaushik)

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