Fernandez recovers from slow start to beat Chwalinska and reach Singapore final

[p]The sixth seed dropped the first five games of the semi-final against her fifth-seeded opponent but came back strongly to win [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/chwalinska-m-OIxOD54s/fernandez-l-a-8EI3pJOd/?mid=b1rbH9QE"]1-6, 6-4, 6-2[/a] to set up a final against unseeded Australian [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/gibson-talia/8GwNXON6/"]Talia Gibson[/a] on Sunday.[/p][p]Gibson advanced to her first WTA final after her semi-final opponent [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/prozorova-tatiana/67YcQ3Y6/"]Tatiana Prozorova[/a] was forced to withdraw from the tournament due to the WTA's concussion protocol.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/fernandez-leylah-annie/8EI3pJOd/"]Fernandez[/a] was broken in all four of her service games in the opening set by fellow left-hander [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/chwalinska-maja/OIxOD54s/"]Chwalinska[/a].[/p][p][b]Galvanised by vocal support, the Canadian raised her game in the second set and earned a crucial break to take a 5-4 lead before holding serve to level the match.[/b][/p][embed guid="71f21b1b-28c8-4b0f-99d2-ef46ccb28656" url="https://x.com/WTA/status/2103822451364790448" social-type="twitter" /][p]The world number 31 then broke Chwalinska twice, and set up match point with an ace before firing a powerful backhand down the line to secure victory in two hours and eight minutes.[/p][p][b]It will be Fernandez's first WTA final since she won last year's Japan Open.[/b][/p][p]The unseeded Prozorova stunned third seed [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/eala-alexandra/ppu9X7PH/"]Alexandrea Eala[/a] in the round of 16 on Thursday and then beat China's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/wang-xinyu-2001/8jMJmh84/"]Wang Xinyu[/a] in a gruelling three-set quarter-final the next day.[/p][p]However, the Russian was struck in the face by the ball while playing in the doubles quarter-finals later on Friday.[/p][p]Prozorova had to withdraw from that match and then had to sit out the singles semi-final after the WTA physiotherapist diagnosed her with concussion.[/p][p]The WTA said players diagnosed with concussion cannot compete until they complete a graduated return-to-play protocol and receive medical clearance.[/p]