Fernandez Fights Back in Epic Washington Semifinal
Canadian reaches first final in over a year after grueling three-tiebreak thriller
Leylah Fernandez is back in a championship match for the first time in more than a year, orchestrating a remarkable comeback in the Mubadala Citi DC Open semifinals.
Marathon Victory in the Capital
On a hot day in Washington, D.C., the Canadian star outlasted No. 3 seed Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan in a grueling 3-hour and 12-minute battle. Fernandez secured her spot in the final with a 6-7(2), 7-6(3), 7-6(3) victory, marked by three intense tiebreaks.
Triumphant Turnaround
Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion, held serve throughout the first set and even served for the match at 5-4 in the second. However, Fernandez’s powerful returns broke through, earning her a crucial service break. She then dominated the second-set tiebreak to level the contest.
Clutch Play in Decisive Tiebreaks
The final set saw no breaks of serve, with both players pushing each other to their limits. Despite Rybakina‘s powerful game and leading ace count, Fernandez proved steadier in rallies. The Canadian’s groundstroke prowess ultimately shone through in the decisive third-set tiebreak.
Seeking First Title Since 2023
Currently ranked World No. 36, Fernandez’s last final appearance was at Eastbourne last June, where she finished as runner-up. She is aiming for her first WTA singles title since winning in Hong Kong in 2023. All three of her career titles have been achieved on hard courts.
Anticipating a Grand Slam Rematch
Fernandez now awaits the outcome of the second semifinal, featuring Anna Kalinskaya and Emma Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion. Sunday’s final could potentially be a rematch of that memorable 2021 US Open final, where a then-teenager Raducanu made history as the first qualifier to win a Grand Slam title.
This hard-fought win highlights Fernandez‘s resilience, a quality seen in many top athletes. For instance, in 2023, only 28% of matches in WTA hardcourt tournaments that went to three sets were won by the eventual loser of the first set (source: WTA Statistics).
