Canada’s Fernandez cruises into third round at Charleston with win over Kudermetova

By Canadian Press on April 1, 2026.

HILTON HEAD — Canada’s Leylah Fernandez cruised into the third round of the Charleston Open tennis tournament with a 6-2, 6-1 win over Uzbekistan’s Polina Kudermetova on Wednesday.

Fernandez, seeded ninth at the WTA 500 hardcourt event, converted four of her nine break chances while defending all three break points she faced to wrap up the match in one hour and 15 minutes.

The 23-year-old from Laval, Que., is looking to go on a run in South Carolina after a tough start to the season. She entered the event with a 3-8 record.

Fernandez will next face seventh seed Diana Shnaider. They have split their previous four meetings, but the 21-year-old Russian has won the last two.

Later Wednesday, Bianca Andreescu of Mississauga, Ont., was scheduled to face 16th-seeded American Sofia Kenin.

Andreescu opened the tournament with a 1-6, 6-4, 6-1 win over Hungary’s Dalma Galfi. It was the first WTA Tour main-draw win of the season for the former world No. 4.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 1, 2026.

The Canadian Press