A Fernandez-Valentova final in Osaka: Romanians defeated in semifinals

The lineup for the final of the WTA 250 tournament in Osaka is now known. Leylah Fernandez will face the young Tereza Valentova in Japan.

Time for the semifinals of the Osaka tournament. The first match of the day pitted Leylah Fernandez against Sorana Cirstea. The two players had never faced each other before. This match was undecided for a long time and was decided in the third set.

The Romanian even broke to lead 3-1 with serve to follow and seemed to be closing in on a second final this season. But Fernandez didn't let go and ultimately turned the situation around. The Canadian won five of the last six games and reached the final (6-1, 2-6, 6-4 in 1h55).

Having won the title in Washington this summer, she will attempt to lift the second title of her season and the fifth of her career against the rising player on the WTA tour, Tereza Valentova. The Czech, aged 18 and already world No. 78, turned the tables against the other Romanian in contention in these semifinals, Jaqueline Cristian.

Coming from the qualifiers, Valentova, who successively eliminated Eala, Mertens, and Danilovic to reach the final four, this time ousted Cristian, who had benefited from Naomi Osaka's withdrawal in the previous round. The Czech player wins (6-7, 6-4, 6-3 in 2h44 of play).

Born in February 2007, Valentova reaches the very first final of her career on the main tour and will face Fernandez, the 2021 US Open finalist, this Sunday in an attempt to win her first title.