In a match that will be etched in the annals of the Mubadala Citi DC Open, Leylah Fernandez delivered a performance for the ages on July 26, 2025, outlasting No. 3 seed Elena Rybakina in a grueling 6-7(2), 7-6(3), 7-6(3) semifinal marathon that spanned three hours and 12 minutes. The 22-year-old Canadian’s triumph at Washington’s William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center, marked by three pulsating tiebreaks, showcased her unrelenting spirit and tactical prowess, propelling her into her seventh career final and her first at the WTA 500 level. As Fernandez awaits the outcome of the second semifinal between Emma Raducanu and Anna Kalinskaya, the prospect of a blockbuster rematch of their 2021 US Open final looms, rekindling memories of their historic clash as teenage prodigies.
The semifinal against Rybakina was a test of endurance under Washington’s sweltering heat, with temperatures in the mid-90s and oppressive humidity pushing both players to their limits. Fernandez, ranked No. 36, faced a daunting challenge against the 2022 Wimbledon champion, whose powerful serve and baseline dominance had carried her to a 6-3, 6-3 quarterfinal win over Magdalena Frech. The match began with both players holding serve impeccably, reaching 2-2 without conceding a return point. “We’re doing things right,” Fernandez said post-match, emphasizing her focus on process over results. “The results are going to come. [I’ll] keep enjoying it, and to not focus too much on results but focus on how my game is improving.” Her 77% first-serve accuracy and 75% second-serve success kept her competitive, but Rybakina’s efficiency in the first-set tiebreak, winning 4/5 service points, gave her the early edge.
The turning point came in the second set, with Rybakina serving for the match at 5-4. Fernandez, staring down defeat, unleashed a barrage of cracking returns to secure her only break of the match, forcing a tiebreak. “I was one game away from defeat, but I just kept fighting,” she later reflected, her never-say-die attitude shining through. In the second and third tiebreaks, Fernandez’s court coverage and tactical intelligence prevailed, as she surged to a 4-0 lead in the decisive breaker and held firm for a 7-6(3), 7-6(3) finish. The victory, her first over a top-15 player this season, marked her biggest hard-court semifinal since her 2021 US Open runner-up finish to Raducanu.
The potential for a Fernandez-Raducanu final adds a layer of intrigue, evoking their iconic 2021 US Open clash, where Raducanu, then 18, defeated the 19-year-old Fernandez 6-4, 6-3 to claim her maiden Grand Slam. Both players, now 22, are enjoying resurgent seasons. Fernandez’s path to the semifinals included a stunning upset over world No. 4 Jessica Pegula and a gritty 6-4, 7-6(4) win over Taylor Townsend, despite battling leg cramps. Raducanu, meanwhile, has been flawless in singles, dispatching Marta Kostyuk, Naomi Osaka, and Maria Sakkari without dropping a set. “I think I have been a lot more focused and competitive for each point,” Raducanu said after her 6-4, 7-5 win over Sakkari, crediting improvements in her serve and movement. However, her doubles campaign with Rybakina ended abruptly, with the “Rybacanu” duo retiring at 1-4 against Townsend and Zhang, citing Raducanu’s physical struggles after a taxing singles match in the heat. “I’m not feeling the best right now, so I just need to go and speak to the doctors,” she admitted, raising concerns about her fitness for the Kalinskaya clash.
Fernandez’s head-to-head history with Rybakina, now 2-1, adds context to her triumph. Their 2024 Cincinnati meeting, where Fernandez saved two match points for a 3-6, 7-6(3), 6-4 comeback, foreshadowed her resilience in Washington. Rybakina, with a 33-13 record in 2025 and a 17-7 hard-court mark, was favored for her punishing serve, averaging 5.4 aces per match. Yet Fernandez’s ability to neutralize Rybakina’s power with relentless defense and timely aggression proved decisive. “It definitely feels good to reach a semi,” Fernandez said after her Townsend win, a sentiment amplified by her final berth, her first since losing to Daria Kasatkina in Eastbourne 2024.
Should Raducanu defeat Kalinskaya, who upset No. 4 seed Clara Tauson 6-3, 7-5, the DC Open final would be a must-watch spectacle, pitting two players whose careers have been shaped by their Flushing Meadows showdown. Fernandez, seeking her fourth WTA title—all on hard courts—brings a 19-17 season record, bolstered by her Montreal roots and a recent training reset in Spain. Raducanu, eyeing her first final since 2021, has climbed to No. 32 in live rankings. Regardless of her opponent, Fernandez’s epic victory over Rybakina cements her as a formidable force, ready to seize her moment in Washington’s spotlight.
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