Canadian Leylah Fernandez got off to a quick start and then had to battle to defeat Tereza Valentova of Czechia 6-0, 5-7, 6-3 in the championship final of the Japan Women’s Open on Saturday night.

The 23-year-old Fernandez, of Laval, Que., needed only 28 minutes to win the first set, but then needed almost two more hours to close it out as the 18-year-old Valentova found her game at the Utsubo Tennis Center.

Related: • Leylah Fernandez eliminated in Olympic women’s singles tennis • Leylah Fernandez rips National Bank Open organizers for quick turnaround after Washington title • Laval’s Leylah Fernandez advances to 3rd round at Olympics; Andreescu ousted • Montreal’s Leylah Fernandez advances to the WTA’s Japan Open final with win over Cîrstea

The victory was Fernandez’s second t

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