Leylah Fernandez secured the most significant victory of her career at the Washington Open, overpowering Anna Kalinskaya with a decisive 6-1, 6-2 win.
The Canadian powerhouse dominated the match, clinching her maiden WTA 500 title and marking her first final appearance since June 2024. This triumph propels Fernandez from world No. 36 to a career-high No. 24.
Fernandez Dominates Washington Open Final
Fernandez claims biggest career title, soaring to world No. 24.
- Leylah Fernandez captured her biggest career win at the Washington Open.
- The victory marks Fernandez’s first WTA 500 title.
- Alex de Minaur also claimed the men’s singles title in a thrilling final.
- De Minaur’s win propelled him into the world’s top 10.
A Commanding Performance
From the outset, Fernandez displayed impressive form. A double fault from Russia’s Kalinskaya gifted Fernandez a crucial break for a 3-1 lead in the first set. Fernandez capitalized, breaking again to go up 5-1 before comfortably serving out the set. The humid conditions appeared to affect Kalinskaya in the second set, as Fernandez extended her dominance. Another double break sealed the set for Fernandez in a brisk 40 minutes, securing her memorable victory.
De Minaur’s Hard-Fought Triumph
The men’s singles final also delivered high drama. Australia’s Alex de Minaur battled back from a set down to defeat Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. After dropping the first set 5-7, de Minaur rallied strongly, winning the second set 6-1. The deciding set went down to a tiebreak, which de Minaur clinched 7-3 after saving three match points. This hard-earned victory represents de Minaur’s 10th career title and elevates him into the world’s top 10, moving from 13th to eighth in the rankings just before the US Open.
Looking Ahead
Following her success in Washington, Fernandez is now set to compete in her homeland at the Canadian Open in Montreal. She is scheduled to face Australia’s Maya Joint in the opening round.
