Canadian Leylah Fernandez captured the WTA 500 title in Singapore last week, defeating Mirra Andreeva, Maja Chwalinska, and Talia Gibson en route to her sixth career championship. The victory marks her best result of a season that has otherwise been marked by inconsistency and early exits at major tournaments.
Why the Singapore title matters despite a difficult year
Fernandez's win comes at a moment when her 2026 campaign has been largely disappointing. According to Tennishead, she carries a negative win-loss record for the year and lost in the first round of three of the four Grand Slam tournaments, reaching only the third round of the US Open. Her strongest performances have come at the Singapore Open, Madrid Open, and Stuttgart Open.
What Connors said about Fernandez's path forward
Eight-time Grand Slam champion Jimmy Connors, speaking on his podcast, warned Fernandez against complacency following her Singapore triumph. Connors highlighted her inconsistency throughout 2026, noting the "ups and downs" of her season, and expressed hope that she would not "sit back on her laurels" in the final stages of the year, according to Tennishead.
The Canadian will look to build on the Singapore momentum as the 2026 tour concludes.