Leylah Fernandez wins her first WTA 500 title at the 2025 DC Open in Washington, D.C., defeating Anna Kalinskaya. (source @leylahannietennis instagram)
Canadian-Filipina Tennis Star Scores Breakthrough Victory in Washington
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Canadian tennis player Leylah Annie Fernandez won her first WTA 500 title on Sunday, July 27, 2025, defeating Russia’s Anna Kalinskaya in the final of the Mubadala Citi DC Open. The victory marks the fourth WTA singles title of Fernandez’s career and her most prestigious tournament win to date.
The 22-year-old left-hander from Laval, Quebec delivered a commanding performance in the final, winning 6–1, 6–2 in just over an hour. Fernandez faced only one break point and converted four against Kalinskaya to take home the trophy.
“This is the kind of match you dream of,” Fernandez said after her win. “I played fearless tennis today.”
A grueling path to the title
Fernandez’s title run included victories over some of the top players on the WTA tour:
- Second round: defeated World No. 5 and top seed Jessica Pegula
- Quarterfinals: defeated Taylor Townsend
- Semifinals: defeated World No. 4 Elena Rybakina in a marathon match lasting 3 hours and 12 minutes, with three consecutive tiebreak sets
The semifinal was one of the most physically demanding matches of Fernandez’s career. She saved a match point and ultimately triumphed 6–7 (4), 7–6 (6), 7–6 (3).
“I just tried to fight for every point,” she told reporters.
After the semifinal, Fernandez humorously credited her recovery to a burger-and-fries meal from Shake Shack, saying it helped her bounce back quickly before the final.
A career milestone
With this win, Fernandez now holds four career WTA singles titles:
- Monterrey Open (2021)
- Monterrey Open (2022)
- Hong Kong Open (2023)
- DC Open (2025)
The DC Open title is her first at the WTA 500 level, a significant upgrade from her previous titles, which came at WTA 250 events. WTA 500 tournaments attract higher-ranked players and offer more ranking points and prize money.
Fernandez was ranked World No. 36 at the time of the victory.
Heritage and background
Fernandez was born to an Ecuadorian father, Jorge Fernandez, who also serves as her coach, and a Filipino-Canadian mother, Irene Exevea, originally from the Philippines. She has frequently spoken about how her multicultural background has shaped her work ethic and discipline.
While she plays under the Canadian flag, her Filipino heritage continues to inspire many in the global Filipino community.
North American Season Continues
Fernandez’s dominant run at the DC Open gives her significant momentum heading into the North American hardcourt swing, which includes the National Bank Open in Montreal—her hometown—and the U.S. Open in New York later this summer.
A defining moment in Fernandez’s career came at the 2021 U.S. Open, where she reached the final at just 19 years old. Along the way, she defeated three top seeds: Naomi Osaka, Elina Svitolina, and Aryna Sabalenka, before falling to Emma Raducanu in an all-teenage championship match.
