The Mubadala Citi DC Open in Washington, D.C., set the tennis world ablaze with electrifying performances that reshaped the WTA rankings, as Leylah Fernandez, Anna Kalinskaya, Emma Raducanu, and Maria Sakkari emerged as the standout stars of the WTA 500 event. The tournament, a pivotal stop on the road to the US Open, showcased a blend of resilience, skill, and redemption, with Fernandez claiming her biggest career title and others making significant leaps in the rankings. The sweltering courts of the William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center became a battleground for these resurgent talents, each carving their path toward tennis glory.
Leylah Fernandez, the 22-year-old Canadian, was the undisputed queen of Washington, storming to her fourth career title with a commanding 6-1, 6-2 victory over Anna Kalinskaya in the final. The former US Open finalist, who started the week ranked No. 36, surged to No. 24, her best ranking since slipping from a career-high No. 13. Fernandez’s path was paved with upsets, including a stunning three-set win over top seed Jessica Pegula and a marathon 6-7(2), 7-6(3), 7-6(3) triumph over No. 3 seed Elena Rybakina in the semifinals, where she fired 12 aces and outlasted the 2022 Wimbledon champion in over three hours. “It was an interesting match,” Fernandez said, reflecting on her final against Kalinskaya. Her disciplined groundstrokes and fearless mentality underscored a resurgence that signals her readiness to reclaim a spot among the elite.
Anna Kalinskaya, despite falling short in her quest for a maiden WTA title, emerged as a force to be reckoned with. The 26-year-old Russian, ranked No. 48 at the tournament’s start, soared to No. 31 after reaching her third final of 2025. Her journey included a 6-3, 7-5 upset over No. 4 seed Clara Tauson and a commanding 6-4, 6-3 semifinal win over Emma Raducanu. Kalinskaya’s love affair with Washington, where she reached the semifinals as a qualifier in 2019 and the quarterfinals in 2022, continued to shine through. “It’s nice to play against Emma,” Kalinskaya said post-match, her 14 backhand winners in the semifinal showcasing her aggressive baseline game. Though her title drought persists, her rise from a low of No. 48, after battling injuries and illness, marks a triumphant return to form.
Emma Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion, reignited her career with a semifinal run that captivated fans. The 22-year-old Brit, who entered ranked No. 46, climbed to No. 33—her highest ranking since August 2022—after defeating Naomi Osaka, Marta Kostyuk, and Maria Sakkari in straight sets. Her 6-4, 7-5 quarterfinal win over Sakkari, despite trailing 5-2 in the second set and battling brutal 95°F heat, was a testament to her grit. “I’m really pleased today, you know, Maria played an incredible match and I think that these conditions really suit her with the jumpiness and liveliness of her game,” Raducanu said. “I think my confidence has been building since Miami.” Though she fell to Kalinskaya, her performance, coupled with a doubles semifinal run alongside Rybakina, signals a return to the top echelon. However, with 108 points from last year’s Citi DC Open quarterfinal dropping, she sits at No. 42 in the live rankings, with a chance to climb higher in Montreal.
Maria Sakkari, celebrating her 30th birthday during the tournament, also made waves, rising 18 spots to No. 72 after reaching the quarterfinals. The former World No. 3, who had slipped to No. 90, defeated No. 2 seed Emma Navarro and Katie Boulter before her loss to Raducanu. “I think you get to a point where you’re so tired that you don’t really know what you’re doing anymore, and I think maybe that helped,” Raducanu said of the grueling match, highlighting Sakkari’s relentless style. Sakkari’s resurgence, after missing much of late 2024, positions her to build momentum without heavy points to defend.
The tournament saw top seeds like Pegula and Navarro falter early, while Rybakina and Tauson reached the semifinals and quarterfinals, respectively, without altering the top 20. Fernandez, Kalinskaya, Raducanu, and Sakkari stole the spotlight, their performances reflecting a broader trend of unseeded players disrupting the WTA hierarchy. As the tour shifts to the Canadian Open, these four are poised to carry their momentum forward, with Fernandez eyeing a top-20 return, Kalinskaya chasing that elusive title, Raducanu rebuilding her confidence, and Sakkari rediscovering her spark. The Citi DC Open proved that in tennis, rankings are just numbers—heart, hustle, and a few clutch shots can rewrite the script.
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