In a blazing display of precision and power, 22-year-old Canadian tennis star Leylah Fernandez captured the biggest title of her career on July 27, 2025, at the Mubadala Citi DC Open in Washington, D.C., dismantling Anna Kalinskaya 6-1, 6-2 in a swift 69-minute final. The victory marked Fernandez’s fourth WTA singles title and her first at the prestigious WTA 500 level, propelling her back into the Top 25 at No. 24 in the live rankings. With a masterful performance that showcased her fiery backhand and relentless returning, Fernandez ended a two-year title drought since her 2023 Hong Kong triumph, proving she’s a force to be reckoned with on the hard courts. “Wow. First of all I want to congratulate Anna and her team,” Fernandez said post-match, her voice filled with respect. “You’re a tough opponent to play against so congratulations and hope for the best for the future.”
Fernandez’s journey to the DC Open crown was a tale of grit and redemption. Entering the tournament ranked No. 36 with a losing record for the season, she faced skepticism after not winning more than two matches at any event since late 2023. Yet, Washington became her proving ground. She kicked off with a commanding 6-3, 6-3 win over New Zealand’s Maya Joint, setting the stage for a seismic upset against top seed and world No. 4 Jessica Pegula. In a 6-3, 1-6, 6-4 battle, Fernandez leaned on her coach’s advice to “stay positive” and shift her mentality, a strategy that carried her through. “In the beginning of the third set, I didn’t do many adjustments,” she admitted, highlighting how mental resilience turned the tide. The quarterfinals saw her outlast former doubles partner Taylor Townsend 6-4, 7-6(4) in a two-hour duel, a testament to her endurance and heart, qualities her parents once championed against coaches who doubted her 5-foot-6 frame. “My parents said: ‘Yeah, but if you put a tennis ball in front of her and you ask her to run for every ball, she’s going to do it,’” she recalled.
The semifinals delivered a three-hour, 12-minute epic against No. 3 seed Elena Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion. Trailing by a set and facing two match points, Fernandez unleashed 12 aces and battled through three tiebreakers to win 6-7(2), 7-6(3), 7-6(3), showcasing her never-say-die spirit. “It was definitely a tough match. It was a battle from beginning to end,” she said, crediting her coach’s simple directive to “execute” and avoid overthinking. In the final, Fernandez faced Kalinskaya, a 26-year-old Russian ranked No. 48 who had not dropped a set all week, including a 6-4, 6-3 semifinal win over Emma Raducanu. Yet, Fernandez was unstoppable, saving the only break point she faced and converting four of six break opportunities. Early in the match, Kalinskaya earned two break points in the third game, but Fernandez held firm, then surged to win five consecutive games, sealing the first set with a delicate drop shot. The second set followed suit, with Fernandez breaking twice to lead 4-1, her backhand down the line and forehand volleys leaving Kalinskaya rooted. “Amazing fight this week,” Kalinskaya graciously told Fernandez, acknowledging her dominance despite her own 0-3 record in tour-level finals.
Fernandez’s victory, fueled by what she jokingly credited to Shake Shack burgers and fries, was a personal milestone. As the first Canadian woman to win the DC Open, she dedicated the title to her mother, Irene, her older sister, Jodeci, and her fitness trainer, Abdul Sillah. “I want to dedicate this trophy to my mom, my oldest sister, and my fitness trainer,” she said, her voice thick with emotion. “You guys have been fighting all year round and still are fighting.” Born to a Filipino-Canadian mother and Ecuadorian father, Jorge, who coaches her, Fernandez’s multicultural roots and family support have been her bedrock. Her younger sister, Bianca, a rising tennis player, and Jodeci, a dentist, form a tight-knit unit that has fueled her journey from the 2021 US Open final, where she fell to Raducanu, to this career-defining moment.
As Fernandez heads to her home tournament in Montreal, where she faces Joint again in the first round, her DC Open triumph signals a resurgence. With Cincinnati and the US Open looming, her confidence is sky-high. “We’re doing things right,” she said, emphasizing her focus on growth over results. Kalinskaya, despite the loss, moves to Canada with momentum, having upset seeds like Clara Tauson and Magda Linette en route to the final. For Fernandez, this victory is more than a trophy—it’s a testament to her heart, hustle, and the unwavering support of those who never gave up on her.
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