Leylah Annie Fernandez battled veteran Great Britain's Heather Watson Saturday in the Abierto Mexicano (Mexican Open) final.
The 17-year-old was appearing in her first career WTA event final and took Watson all the way to a decisive third set.
Watson, the world's No. 69 ranked player, won the match 6-4, 6-7 (8-10), 6-1 to earn her fourth career WTA singles title.
Career title no. 4! 🏆@HeatherWatson92 outlasts Fernandez 6-4, 6-7(8), 6-1 at @AbiertoTelcel. pic.twitter.com/V3LL5ySYzd
— WTA (@WTA) March 1, 2020
Watson used her serve to get ahead in the first set, winning 70 percent of her first-serve points, including three aces, to take it 6-4.
Fernandez battled back, however, forcing a second set tiebreak in which she saved five championship points. Fernandez took the tiebreak 10-8 to force a decisive third set.
We are going to a decider! 💪
— WTA (@WTA) March 1, 2020
Qualifier @leylahfernandez fights back for the second set, 7-6(8).#AMT2020 pic.twitter.com/xFjwcJn4FL
The third set was dominated by Watson, with the Brit taking it 6-1 to finish off the match. Fernandez won just 30 percent of her return points and 43 percent of her service points in the set.
Fernandez showed off her skills in the match, placing a beautiful sliced shot in the second set.
From one end of the net to the other, @leylahfernandez 😮#AMT2020 pic.twitter.com/mL2R6BjCS8
— WTA (@WTA) March 1, 2020
Following her best WTA tour event result, the Montreal native's world ranking will jump from No. 190 to No. 126 on Monday.