Leylah Fernandez 🇨🇦 vs Maya Joint 🇦🇺

🎾 Leylah Fernandez 🇨🇦 vs Maya Joint 🇦🇺 – WTA Montreal R2 Preview

📅 National Bank Open · Outdoor Hard · Wednesday, July 31

🧠 Form & Context

Leylah Fernandez (WTA #24)

• 🔥 D.C. Champion: Captured her first title on U.S. soil last week, defeating Pegula and Rybakina en route to the Washington crown.
• 📈 Momentum surge: Prior to D.C., only two QFs in 2025 (Abu Dhabi, Nottingham)—now enters Montreal brimming with confidence.
• 🧠 Recent H2H: Beat Joint in straight sets (6–3, 6–3) in Washington just eight days ago—won 100% of service games and 78% behind first serve.
• 🏠 Home crowd factor: A local favorite who made R16 here in 2023. Expect loud support and extra fire.

Maya Joint (WTA #45)

• 🚀 Breakout season: Rabat and Eastbourne titles, Hobart SF, and a rise from outside the top 100 into the top 40.
• ⚠️ Brutal openers: Lost to Fernandez and Samsonova in recent R1 exits, both in straight sets.
• 👀 Rapid development: Just 19 and already winning on clay, grass, and hard. First Montreal main draw.
• 📉 Fatigue concern: Has played 56 matches in 2025; last tour-level win came over Pavlyuchenkova over a month ago.

🔍 Match Breakdown

Rematch tension: This is a tactical do-over of their Washington duel. Fernandez used elite footwork and angles to dismantle Joint’s power baseline game.

Tactical flow: Joint looks to end points early with flat forehands, but Fernandez thrives in rallies—returning deep and absorbing pace. Expect Leylah to redirect with precision.

Mental & physical edge: Fernandez rides the high of a title win but must avoid emotional fatigue. Home-court adrenaline may lift her again, especially if the crowd gets involved.

What Joint needs: A fast start, early break chances, and high first-serve accuracy. If she forces Fernandez into defense early, she could flip the script.

🔮 Prediction

Leylah Fernandez holds a clear tactical edge, fresh off beating Joint just a week ago. The quick turnaround and home-court pressure make it tricky, but her movement and rally tolerance should again prove decisive.

🧩 Pick: Leylah Fernandez def. Maya Joint – 2 sets (e.g. 7–5, 6–4)