Leylah Fernandez clinches first WTA 500 title with dominant Citi Open victory

Leylah Fernandez secured the biggest title of her career on Sunday, defeating Russia’s Anna Kalinskaya 6-1, 6-2 to win the Mubadala Citi DC Open in Washington, D.C. The Canadian, ranked 36th in the world, delivered a dominant performance in just 69 minutes, marking her first WTA 500 title and breaking a nearly two-year drought since her last singles crown in Hong Kong in 2023.

Fernandez entered the final brimming with confidence after a dramatic three-set semifinal win over third seed Elena Rybakina, in which she saved match points and battled for more than three hours. Her run to the championship included notable victories against heavyweights, including Jessica Pegula in the round of 16 and Rybakina in the semis.

Fernandez : “Amazing”

In the final, Fernandez set the tone after saving two break points at 1-1, breaking Kalinskaya’s serve twice per set. Kalinskaya, who stunned Britain’s Emma Raducanu in Saturday’s semifinals, rarely found her rhythm as Fernandez used sharp angles and quick court coverage to repeatedly wrest control of rallies. Fernandez won 75% of her first-serve points and converted six of eight break points.

“It feels amazing to lift this trophy here,” Fernandez said in her on-court interview. “It’s been a tough couple of years, so to come through some difficult matches this week and win my first 500-level title, I’m just really proud of how I played and improved with every round.”

Kalinskaya expressed pride in her run but acknowledged Fernandez’s quality in the final, calling her a “fighter” and “a really great competitor.”

With her triumph, Fernandez not only moves closer to the world’s top 30 but also gains valuable momentum heading into the North American hard-court swing, including the upcoming National Bank Open in Montreal at home.