Fernandez Claims First WTA 500 Title at D.C. Open
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By Heidi Specter
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Summary:
- Leylah Fernandez defeated Anna Kalinskaya 6-1, 6-2 to win her first WTA 500 title.
- The 22-year-old Canadian battled through multiple long matches, including wins over Pegula and Rybakina.
- In the men’s final, Australian Alex de Minaur claimed his 10th ATP title.
Leylah Fernandez finished the best week of her tennis career with a superb 6-1, 6-2 win over Russia’s Anna Kalinskaya, which brought her the D.C. Open title. The victory marked the 22-year-old Canadian’s first WTA 500 trophy and her fourth career singles championship.
Long Road to the Trophy
Fernandez, ranked No. 36 in the world, made light work of the final, making use of her trademark backhand and showcasing a sharp return game.
However, her path to the tennis trophy was anything but easy, as she had to battle through a grueling stretch of three-set matches and overcome both elite opponents and brutal summer conditions in Washington.
In the second round, Fernandez outlasted top-seeded Jessica Pegula in a 2-hour, 19-minute duel.
The quarterfinals brought another tight contest, requiring 2 hours and 20 minutes to get past Taylor Townsend. Then came a marathon semifinal against Wimbledon 2022 champion Elena Rybakina, three tie-breaks and over three hours on court.
Champions’ Food: Burgers and Shake Shack
Off the court, Fernandez kept her recovery lighthearted, and carb-loaded. She joked after the win over Townsend,
We got burgers, hotdog, cheese fries — everything that an athlete should not eat before a match, but it did the trick
Her go-to post-match indulgence? Shake Shack.
After the punishing semifinal with Rybakina, Fernandez and her father-coach turned to their now-weekly tradition.
We were messaging, and I was, like, ‘OK, what do you want to eat tonight?’ We both answered at the same time: burgers. That was kind of my diet for the whole week.”
The burger-powered run delivered her first title since Hong Kong last October. She arrived in Washington with a modest season record and hadn’t reached the late stages of a tournament since last year.
I have gone through so many different challenges this week. If I can get through this — the cramps, the long matches, the heat — I can get through anything.
Kalinskaya, ranked 48th and playing in her third WTA final, couldn’t match Fernandez’s energy or shot-making. She landed just nine winners against 24 unforced errors and won only two of 12 points on her second serve.
Amazing fight this week. You truly deserve it.
In the men’s final, Australia’s Alex de Minaur captured his 10th ATP title by edging Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 5-7, 6-1, 7-6(3), saving three match points in a tense finale.
Will Fernandez take her form into the 2025 US Open? Get the latest odds ahead of the tournament with Betting.ca
