Leylah Fernandez, the 22-year-old Canadian tennis sensation, has captured hearts both on and off the court following her commanding victory at the 2025 Mubadala Citi DC Open in Washington, D.C. The world No. 24 clinched her fourth career WTA singles title and first WTA 500-level trophy, defeating Anna Kalinskaya 6-1, 6-2 in a swift 70-minute final on July 27, 2025. The win, her first since Hong Kong in 2023, marked a turning point in a challenging season and boosted her confidence as she heads into the National Bank Open in Montreal. Yet, it was her candid update on a unique dating offer that stole the spotlight, as she revealed, “Honestly, I told my date that we might have to push it back a little bit because I’m still in D.C.”
Fernandez’s journey to the Citi DC Open title was a testament to her resilience. Entering the tournament ranked No. 36, she faced a formidable draw, dispatching rising star Maya Joint 6-3, 6-3 in the first round, top seed Jessica Pegula 6-3, 1-6, 7-5 in a thrilling second-round upset, and Taylor Townsend 6-4, 7-6(4) in the quarterfinals despite battling cramps. Her semifinal marathon against 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina lasted over three hours, culminating in a 6-4, 6-7(5), 7-6(3) victory. In the final, Fernandez was relentless, hugging the baseline and chasing every ball under sweltering conditions at Rock Creek Park Tennis Center. “I have gone through so many different challenges this week,” she said. “It just has made me stronger, in a way, that if I can get through this week—through the cramps, through the long matches, through the heat, the humidity—I can get through anything.”
Off the court, Fernandez’s personal life garnered equal attention. Days before the tournament, on July 18, she posted a lighthearted Instagram video inviting fans to DM her for a one-hour date in Montreal during the National Bank Open. “This will be fun, right? This isn’t a joke. I fully intend to go on a date in Montreal so go ahead and DM me,” she declared, noting that potential suitors would need to meet her father and coach, Jorge, first. The response was overwhelming, with over 100 messages flooding her inbox on the first day. “There’ve been a lot of responses,” Fernandez shared after her first-round win. “I’ve got a lot of options. My dad point blank asked me if I’d gone on a date yet, and I told him I hadn’t. I’ve never really had the time, and no one’s really asked me, which, I don’t know why!” She revealed that the idea stemmed from a candid conversation with Jorge, who encouraged her to connect with fans in her hometown. “He suggested I post a video on Instagram and have a date in Montréal, where you feel at home and you feel comfortable,” she explained.
The Citi DC Open triumph delayed her plans. “Honestly, I told my date that we might have to push it back a little bit because I’m still in D.C.,” Fernandez told Tennis Channel post-final, adding, “Hopefully, maybe at the end of Montreal, I get to have that date finally. But we’ve been talking, we’ve been keeping in touch to hopefully schedule at the end of Montreal, before going to Cincy.” Her playful candor resonated with fans, and messages from fellow athletes, including Olympians, reassured her. “I got responses from other athletes, including ones I went to the Olympics with, and they told me, ‘I know how you feel,’ or, ‘When I was 22, I hadn’t gone on a date yet, either,’” she said. “Reading those messages makes me feel better and like I’m not the odd one out.”
Fernandez’s 2025 season had been rocky, with early exits at the French Open and Wimbledon, prompting a blunt assessment: “It’s been pretty sh*t, to be honest,” she laughed during a Canadian Open press conference. The Citi DC Open changed that narrative, earning her $200,000 and 500 ranking points, propelling her to No. 24. “It gives us some good momentum going into bigger tournaments,” she told WTAtennis.com. “To play against the big players here in Washington—it wasn’t an easy draw—it’s a good feeling to get my first 500.” Her victory over Pegula, a former US Open finalist, and Rybakina was “very satisfying,” she noted, especially given her friendship with Townsend. “Taylor was another battle, physically and mentally. I’ve played doubles with her and we’re pretty good friends, so setting that aside wasn’t easy,” she admitted.
As Fernandez arrived in Montreal, her focus shifted to the National Bank Open, where she faced Maya Joint again but suffered a 4-6, 1-6 upset, later expressing disappointment over scheduling promises for a night match that didn’t materialize. “It felt great being on court, hearing the fans and feeling their support. It was awesome,” she said, though her performance fell short. With the Cincinnati Open and US Open looming, Fernandez remains optimistic, fueled by her D.C. success and the playful anticipation of her first-ever date. Her glamorous trophy photoshoot, showcasing a radiant smile, captured her joy, while her candid approach to balancing tennis and personal life continues to endear her to fans worldwide.
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