It certainly took a while, but Leylah Annie Fernandez secured a spot in Sunday's Mubadala Citi D.C. Open final – the Canadian No. 1’s first final of 2025 – by defeating No. 3 seed Elena Rybakina 6-7(2), 7-6(3), 7-6(3) on Saturday.
The semifinal clash was Fernandez’s longest of the year and just the second time in 2025 that she has gone on to win the match after dropping the opening set.
The 22-year-old from Laval had a solid winners-unforced errors ratio, finishing with 36 and 28, respectively. Fernandez won 95 per cent of her first-serve points in the first set despite dropping it and was resilient on serve in the second, fighting off four break points to keep herself alive.
Only one return point was won over the opening four games in the match. Fernandez managed a love hold in three of her first four service games as neither player held a break point in the set.
A tiebreak was needed and, at 1-1, a double fault from the Canadian gave Rybakina the mini-break. The Kazakhstani won four of the next five points, firing three of her 44 winners in the match to hold set point. The 22-year-old from Laval hit her return into the net to drop the opener.
Read Also: Fernandez Overcomes Injury Scare and Townsend to Reach Washington Semis
Rybakina carried that momentum into the second set as the world No. 12 broke then held to lead 2-0. The Canadian No. 1 had the chance to level the set at 2-1, 30-40, but the Kazakhstani fired an ace to get to deuce and eventually held to regain her two-game lead.
That lead was nearly extended in the ensuing game as Fernandez faced triple break point, but the pressure didn’t faze the world No. 36 who battled back to hold.
At 4-3, Fernandez let a pair of break points slip away, allowing Rybakina to serve for the match in the tenth game. However, the Canadian found herself up love-40 and converted on the third break point to level the set at 5-5 and stay alive in the match.
Once again, the fans in Washington were treated to a tiebreak.
Read Also: Reigning NBO finalists Pegula and Anisimova in same quarter of Montreal draw
After beginning with her sixth ace of the afternoon, Fernandez won both points on return to lead 3-0. At 6-3, a Rybakina double fault sent the match to a decisive set. It was the first set that the 2022 Wimbledon champion dropped in the tournament.
Both players were strong on serve to begin the third, combining for seven aces in the first five games.
At 5-4, Fernandez served well, earning a love hold in a vital spot to even the contest. The match surpassed Rybakina’s previous longest this year as a trifecta of tiebreaks was needed to determine who would battle for the Washington title.
A powerful forehand gave Fernandez the minibreak and the 22-year-old from Laval soon shot out to a 3-0 lead. Rybakina closed the gap a bit but Fernandez held three match points at 6-3, only needing one as the Kazakhstani sent her forehand wide.
Read Also: 2025 NBO Montreal Players - Meet the Canadian Women
The Canadian is through to her first WTA final since Eastbourne in June of last year. Fernandez awaits the winner of Anna Kalinskaya and Emma Raducanu.
Feature Photo: Martin Sidorjak
