Leylah Fernandez of Laval, Quebec, won the Singapore Tennis Open on Sunday, defeating Australia's Talia Gibson 7-5, 6-0 in the final. The victory marks Fernandez's first WTA title in 2026 and her sixth career WTA title overall, according to Sportsnet.
Fernandez completed the match in one hour and 38 minutes, showcasing a dominant performance throughout the week. She dropped only one set en route to the title and converted six of 12 break-point opportunities against Gibson, hitting five aces in the final, Sportsnet reported.
How did Fernandez reach the final?
Fernandez rallied from a set down to defeat Poland's Maja Chwalinska 1-6, 6-4, 6-2 in Saturday's semifinal. After losing the opening set, the Canadian took control by winning the first eight points of the second set to establish a 2-0 lead, according to the WTA. She broke Chwalinska twice in the third set to seal the victory after two hours and eight minutes.
Fernandez entered the tournament as the No. 6 seed and defeated top-seeded Mirra Andreeva 6-2, 7-5 in the quarterfinals on Friday. She also beat American Alycia Parks 6-4, 6-3 and Japanese qualifier Kyoka Okamura 6-2, 6-3 in earlier rounds.
What was the significance of the comeback?
Chwalinska, seeded fifth, dominated the early stages of the semifinal by winning the first five games and holding a 5-0 lead. The Polish player, a French Open finalist in June, mixed slices, heavy topspin, and changes of pace to control the opening set. Fernandez adjusted her approach by shortening points and moving forward more aggressively, according to Tennis Majors.
Fernandez is now ranked No. 31 in the world and was playing on a last-minute wild card in Singapore. Her previous WTA title came in October 2025 at the Japan Open in Osaka. The win represents her second WTA 500 title in her career, according to Sportsnet.
Sources
- Sportsnet.ca: Canada's Leylah Fernandez wins Singapore Open. Published 2026-09-28.
- Sportsnet.ca: Canada's Leylah Fernandez advances to Singapore Tennis Open final. Published 2026-09-26.
- CBC: Canada's Leylah Fernandez rallies to reach final in Singapore. Published 2026-09-26.
- Women's Tennis Association: From a set down to the final: Fernandez rallies past Chwalinska. Published 2026-09-26.
- Tennis Majors: "It's about time": Fernandez fights back from a set down to beat Chwalinska and reach Singapore final. Published 2026-09-26.
Reported from public sources.