Leylah Fernandez is ranked World No. 27 in WTA singles as of the latest official rankings. (Photo courtesy of WTA Tennis)
INDIAN WELLS, California — Canadian tennis player Leylah Fernandez, who is of Filipino and Ecuadorian descent, is entered in the women’s singles draw of the 2026 BNP Paribas Open and arrives ranked World No. 27, according to the official rankings released by the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA).
Fernandez, 23, represents Canada internationally. Her mother is Filipina and her father is Ecuadorian, a background she has publicly acknowledged in interviews throughout her career.
Indian Wells overview
The BNP Paribas Open is classified as a WTA 1000 tournament and runs March 4–15 at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Riverside County, California. The event features a 96-player singles draw contested on outdoor hard courts.
Qualifying matches began March 1, with main-draw play starting March 4.
The tournament is held concurrently with an ATP Masters 1000 event under the Association of Tennis Professionals.
Ranking profile
According to the WTA, Fernandez’s current singles ranking is No. 27. Her career-high ranking of No. 13 was achieved in August 2022.
She gained global attention in 2021 when she advanced to the US Open final, becoming one of the youngest finalists in recent tournament history. Since then, she has remained a consistent Top 30 competitor on tour.
Tournament outlook
As a direct main-draw entrant, Fernandez is expected to begin play once the official draw is released and match schedules are finalized. WTA 1000 tournaments offer substantial ranking points, making Indian Wells a key stop during the March hard-court swing.
Fernandez remains one of the highest-profile players of Filipino descent competing on the WTA Tour, drawing support from fans in Canada, the Philippines and beyond.
