Olaniyi AyoolaIn a highly anticipated Round of 16 clash at the 2025 WTA Qatar Open, Amanda Anisimova delivered a commanding performance to defeat Leylah Fernandez 6-3, 6-0, securing her place in the quarterfinals . This victory marked a significant turnaround in their rivalry, as Fernandez had previously held a 2-0 head-to-head advantage, with wins at the 2022 Indian Wells and French Open .
Anisimova, ranked No. 41 at the time, showcased her aggressive baseline play and powerful serve throughout the match. She landed 69% of her first serves and won 76% of those points, while Fernandez managed a 63% first-serve percentage but won only 54% of those points . Anisimova’s dominance was particularly evident in the second set, where she bageled Fernandez 6-0 in just 27 minutes, winning seven consecutive games .
Prior to this encounter, both players had impressive runs in the tournament. Anisimova had defeated former world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka and ninth seed Paula Badosa, while Fernandez dispatched Belgian qualifier Greet Minnen and eighth seed Emma Navarro .
This victory not only advanced Anisimova to the quarterfinals but also signaled her resurgence on the WTA Tour. She went on to win the tournament, defeating Jelena Ostapenko in the final to claim her first WTA 1000 title and third career title . As a result, Anisimova broke into the top 20 rankings, reaching world No. 18 on February 17, 2025 .
Anisimova’s performance against Fernandez demonstrated her potential to compete at the highest level, especially on hard courts. Her ability to dominate a top-30 opponent with such authority suggests that she could be a formidable contender in upcoming tournaments.
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Olaniyi Ayoola
