In the sweltering heat of Washington, D.C., 22-year-old Canadian tennis star Leylah Fernandez delivered a masterclass in resilience and skill, clinching the Mubadala Citi DC Open title with a commanding 6-1, 6-2 victory over Russia’s Anna Kalinskaya. The triumph, her first at the WTA 500 level and fourth career singles title, has sparked excitement about her prospects at the upcoming US Open. Former world No. 9 and US Open women’s doubles champion CoCo Vandeweghe has declared Fernandez a “threat” at the Grand Slam, while retired American player Steve Johnson predicted “big things” for the young Canadian, citing her ability to perform under pressure on hard courts.
Fernandez’s journey to the DC Open title was anything but easy. Entering the tournament ranked No. 36 with a challenging 2025 season marked by early exits, she faced a gauntlet of top-tier opponents. Her path included a grueling three-set upset over world No. 4 Jessica Pegula in the second round, a hard-fought quarterfinal win against American Taylor Townsend, and a marathon three-hour, 12-minute semifinal victory over 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina, decided by three tiebreakers. Despite the physical toll of long matches, cramps, and D.C.’s punishing heat and humidity, Fernandez showcased her mental fortitude. “I have gone through so many different challenges this week,” she said in her post-match press conference. “If I can get through this week—through the cramps, through the long matches, through the heat, the humidity—I can get through anything.”
The final against Kalinskaya was a display of Fernandez’s aggressive counterpunching and tactical brilliance. In just 69 minutes, she dismantled her opponent, saving the only break point she faced and capitalizing on 10 of 12 points on Kalinskaya’s second serve. “The match was very solid from my part,” Fernandez noted, highlighting her ability to manage nerves and execute at critical moments. Her 71.8% first-serve rate and four breaks of Kalinskaya’s serve underscored her dominance, as the Russian struggled with 24 unforced errors. Kalinskaya, gracious in defeat, acknowledged Fernandez’s prowess, saying, “Amazing fight this week. You truly deserve it.”
Fernandez’s victory marks a significant milestone, ending a nearly two-year title drought since her 2023 Hong Kong Open win. Her previous three titles came at WTA 250 events, making the DC Open her most prestigious triumph yet. The win propelled her to No. 24 in the WTA rankings and earned her nearly $200,000 in prize money, boosting her confidence as she heads into the North American hard-court swing. “This tournament in Washington is going to give me a lot of confidence coming in,” Fernandez said, eyeing upcoming events like the WTA 1000 Canadian Open in her native Montreal.
Vandeweghe’s endorsement carries weight, given Fernandez’s history at the US Open. In 2021, as a 19-year-old, she stunned the tennis world by reaching the final, defeating top-five players Naomi Osaka, Elina Svitolina, and Aryna Sabalenka before falling to Emma Raducanu. “You are always going to play well where you have had success,” Vandeweghe remarked, pointing to Fernandez’s affinity for hard courts, where all her WTA titles have been won. Johnson echoed this optimism, noting, “Whenever you can get a title on a hard court leading up into a Grand Slam, whatever surface it may be, especially now going home,” Fernandez is poised for a deep run.
Off the court, Fernandez’s charm and relatability shone through. After her semifinal and quarterfinal matches, she and her father-coach Jorge indulged in Shake Shack burgers, hot dogs, and cheese fries—hardly the diet of a typical athlete. “Everything that an athlete should not eat before a match, but it did the trick,” Fernandez quipped, crediting the meals for helping her recover from cramps. Her candidness extended to her personal life, as she humorously revealed postponing a date due to her extended stay in D.C. “I told my date that we might have to push it back a little bit,” she shared, expressing hope to reschedule after Montreal.
Fernandez’s resurgence comes after a challenging season, which she bluntly described as “pretty sh*t” in a lighthearted moment. Her decision to skip a break after a second-round Wimbledon exit and instead train in Spain with former coaches reinvigorated her love for the game. With her aggressive playstyle, bolstered by a lethal backhand and exceptional court coverage, Fernandez is rediscovering the form that made her a fan favorite in 2021. As she prepares for the US Open, her recent triumph and endorsements from tennis veterans signal that she could once again shake up the women’s draw in New York.
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