Canada’s Leylah Fernandez faltered after a strong first set in a 1-6, 6-3, 6-2 loss to Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic on Friday in the quarterfinals of the Rothesay Classic grass-court tennis tournament.
Fernandez, seeded sixth in Birmingham, won 82.6 per cent of first-serve points and saved the only break point she faced in the first set, while breaking Tomljanovic twice on four chances.
Tomljanovic responded and scored on both of her break points in the second set, including a key break to take a 4-2 lead.
The Australian built on that momentum in the third set, scoring two early breaks to take a 3-0 lead and cruising to victory from there.
Fernandez was playing in her first grass-court tournament of the season.
The 21-year-old from Laval, Que., ranked 33rd in the world, has a 13-12 singles record this season.
WATCH | Fernandez eliminated in Rothesay Classic quarterfinals:
Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic defeats sixth seed Leylah Fernandez from Laval, Que., 1-6, 6-3, 6-2 to advance to the semifinals of the Rothesay Classic.
Andy Murray to have back surgery
British tennis player Andy Murray will undergo a back procedure after being forced to retire from his second-round match at the Queen’s Club Championships due to injury, his management said Friday.
The three-time Grand Slam champion was forced to withdraw from the tournament in London due to an injury after trailing 4-1 in the opening set of his second-round match against Australian Jordan Thompson on Wednesday.
“Andy is having a procedure on his back tomorrow [Saturday]. We will know more after this has taken place and will update further as soon as possible,” a statement to British media said.
The Guardian reported Murray would have surgery.
The Scottish two-time Olympic gold medallist said in February he was unlikely to continue playing next season and faces a race against time to be fit for the upcoming Wimbledon tournament.
The 37-year-old has previously stated it would be a fitting end to his career if he bowed out at this year’s Wimbledon or the Paris Olympics.
Wimbledon runs from July 1-14, with the Olympic tennis competition beginning July 27.