Fernandez, the tournament’s third seed, recorded eight aces and won 73 per cent of her first serves in a match that lasted 91 minutes on centre court at the Victoria Park Tennis Centre.
The Canadian converted three of six break points while the ninth-seeded Pera managed to convert just one of six.
Fernandez, of Laval, Que., will next meet top-seeded Diana Shnaider of Russia.
Shnaider beat unseeded Suzan Lamens of the Netherlands 6-0, 6-7, 6-2 in Friday’s other quarterfinal.
It’s Fernandez’s first semifinal appearance since reaching the final of the Rothesay International in Eastbourne, England, in June.
WATCH | Fernandez defeats American Pera in straight sets:
Defending Hong Kong Open champion Leylah Fernandez of Laval, Que., bested American Bernarda Pera, 6-1, 7-6(7) in the quarterfinals.
Tsitsipas out of ATP Finals contention
Alexander Zverev advanced to the semifinals of the Paris Masters by beating Stefanos Tsitsipas 7-5, 6-4 on Friday and knocking the Greek player out of contention for the ATP Finals.
With the victory, Zverev beat Daniil Medvedev to the milestone of the first player born in the 1990s to record 100 wins over top-20 players. Medvedev is on 99.
The third-seeded German saved the only break point he faced en route to his 64th victory of the year.
The 27-year-old Zverev, the French Open runner-up, next faces 2022 champion Holger Rune or Alex de Minaur for a shot at the title. He’s into his third Paris semifinals in the past four years, though he’s never won the hardcourt tournament.
Trailing 6-5 in the opening set, Tsitsipas saved two set points but squandered his only break point chance with his 17th unforced error before Zverev closed out the set.
Zverev then broke again in the third game of the second set to take full control. He rattled off 12 straight points in his final three service games.
The 10th-seeded Tsitsipas, who had reached the ATP Finals for five consecutive years, had 28 unforced errors to 18 winners.
WATCH | Shapovalov: ‘There’s not a lot of pressure on us’ entering Davis Cup Final 8:
Denis Shapovalov talks Rafael Nadal’s career and Canada’s chances in the upcoming Davis Cup.
