MONTERREY (AFP) – Canada’s Leylah Fernandez saved five match points before retaining her WTA Monterrey crown with victory over Colombia’s Camila Osorio on Sunday.
The 19-year-old Fernandez battled to a gruelling 6-7 (5/7), 6-4, 7-6 (7/3) win in just under three hours after a dramaticfinal set.
Fifth seed Osorio looked poised to clinch only the second WTA title of her career after earning her fifth match point when 6-5 up in the decisive third set on Fernandez’s serve.
But 2021 US Open runner-up Fernandez then lodged a complaint with tournament officials, appearing to argue that a faulty light in the stadium had distracted her.
Officials ordered the lights to be repaired, forcing a delay of around 15 minutes before play could resume.
When the action got back under way, Osorio’s rhythm had been broken. Fernandez duly clawed back the match point, and held serve to fo
