Leylah Fernandez put on an absolutely clinical display at the Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open, sweeping past Eva Lys with a powerful 6-4, 6-1 victory on Wednesday.

This was the first time two top 50 players squared off at this year’s tournament, and the Canadian star immediately made it clear who was in charge, wrapping up the win in a swift 68 minutes.

Post-match, Leylah shared her thoughts, saying the key was to not think too much.

“The key was to not think too much on court while playing. And I’m just quite glad that I was able to execute that and just trust myself fully,” she said.

“I think the first set, I came out swinging, and I was just as I said, just trusting myself, trusting my shots.

“As the game got closer, I thought Eva, she’s gonna run for every ball down, so I’m just gonna have to be patient on a couple of shots, but just to keep going for it. And in the second set, I was being smart with my rallies and the shot selections.

“Today’s match was definitely a very high-level match that I played.

“I was being aggressive, offensive and, you know, my coach said it best, I’ve got to go out there with a purpose.

“This is the type of level that I have to bring every day and every tournament, because that’s what the top 10 do.”

The 2023 Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open Champion, world No. 22 Leylah, was unstoppable from the first serve, racing to a 3-0 lead. She sealed that second and third game with eight straight points, a stunning sequence that showcased her flawless form.

This was Leylah at her commanding best, treating the first set with the confidence of a practice session. Her strategy was impeccable: a sharp serve to create an opening, followed by punishing groundstrokes that Lys simply had no answer for. It was a masterclass in controlled aggression.

Lys’s growing frustration was evident, with audible shouts of disbelief as Leylah continued her relentless attack. The German’ exchanges with her coach between games grew increasingly animated.

A contentious line call did offer Lys a brief opening to break back and level the set at 4-4, but this only served to ignite a fiercer response from our player.

Refusing to be rattled, Leylah elevated her game, charging the net and aggressively converting a double break point to seize the first set.

Despite another loud coaching intervention for Lys during the break, the momentum remained firmly with our team.

The second set saw longer rallies, a shift that played directly into Leylah’s strengths. She has consistently said she thrives in these extended exchanges, and she proved it once again.

Sensing her opportunity, Leylah dazzled with volleys and slices from all corners of the court. Her groundstrokes, landing precariously close to the lines, stretched Lys to her limit. She relentlessly pressed until she secured the decisive break for a 5-1 lead, then coolly served out the match to advance.

Cody Wong said, “This is our third time competing in the doubles at this tournament, and I’m thrilled that we finally secured a victory. Especially winning in front of my family and friends, it means a great deal to me.”

Eudice Chong said, “We have been working very hard over the last few months in preparation for this and the National Games in November, which I think has really shown this week. We have had time to get to know each other’s game, and we played with a lot more aggression.”

Earlier in the day, Eudice Chong and Cody Wong upset the tournament’s doubles No 1 seeds, beating Wu Fang-Hsien and Eri Hozumi, 4-6, 6-3, 10-5.

In the singles competition, Sorana Cirstea from Romania beat Australian Ajla Tomljanovic 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 in a battle that lasted over two hours.

The other match on center court saw Slovakian Viktoria Morvayova lose in straight sets to Maya Joint, also from Australia.

On Thursday, Chong is back on court when she faces Himeno Sakatsume in the second round of the women’s singles. Before that, Alex Eala faces Victoria Mboko.