WASHINGTON, July 29, 2025 (by Michael Dickens)
After Leylah Fernandez earned her fourth career WTA title – and first at the WTA 500-series level – at the Mubadala Citi DC Open, in which she took down World No. 4 Jessica Pegula and World No. 12 Elena Rybakina, then dominated 48th-ranked Anna Kalinskaya in Sunday’s final, the personable Canadian was asked how she managed to recover from these long battles contested in the hot, sticky Washington, D.C. summer heat.
The 5-foot-6-inch, 22-year-old Montreal native’s answer was a surprising one: Why, Shake Shack, of course!
What a week in DC ☺️@leylahfernandez #MubadalaCitiDCOpen pic.twitter.com/AKtfhaZsP9
— Mubadala Citi DC Open (@mubadalacitidc) July 27, 2025
For Fernandez, who jumped up 12 places in the WTA Rankings on Monday to World No. 24 after winning the DC Open – her biggest title to date – she said: “We got burgers, hot dog, cheese fries – everything that an athlete should not eat before a match, but it did the trick,” Fernandez said, describing what she ate after enduring a grueling, two-hour, 21-minute quarterfinal tussle with Taylor Townsend last Friday. “It gave me the right nutrients to recover from the cramps and get ready for the next round.”
Fernandez’s title run in the nation’s capital city began with a solid, straight-set win over 38th-ranked Australian teenager Maya Joint and continued with a three-set takedown of the top-seeded Pegula. Then, she persevered against 97th-ranked American qualifier Townsend, overcoming leg cramps to win, and followed it by pulling out a marathon three-set, three tie-break victory over Rybakina in the semifinals. Finally, everything fell in place from first ball to last ball against Kalinskaya, who was in search of her first tour-level title. Fernandez dropped just three games in prevailing 6-1, 6-2, in only 69 minutes in the championship final.
Leylah’s winning moment #MubadalaCitiDCOpen pic.twitter.com/vOUkPkP553
— Mubadala Citi DC Open (@mubadalacitidc) July 27, 2025
During her champion’s news conference, Fernandez revealed that in addition to her salt-filled Shake Shack meal – which went against her superstition of eating at the same restaurants when she’s doing well in a tournament, she also dined on Mexican cuisine, eating steak and guacamole from Mi Vida, and also feasted on Italian tagliatelle bolognese and charcuterie from Officina, located in the Wharf, a popular Washington, D.C. restaurant destination along the Potomac River.
After her quarterfinal victory over Townsend on Friday, Fernandez said she texted her father and coach, Jorge, to discuss dinner plans.
“My coach and I, we were messaging, and I was like, ‘Okay, what do you want to eat tonight?’” Fernandez said. “We both answered at the same time. Burgers.”
Father first, coach second @leylahfernandez | #MubadalaCitiDCOpen pic.twitter.com/cKgWLABl22
— Mubadala Citi DC Open (@mubadalacitidc) July 27, 2025
So long as Fernandez enjoyed her food, everything was going to be all right. Her selections of what and where to eat must have worked because she relied well on her physical conditioning – along with her terrific ground strokes and returns – to gut out her win over Rybakina, then breezed against Kalinskaya in Sunday’s title match. Her heart and belief in herself were her allies as much as the hamburgers that fueled her. By the time she secured championship point – importantly – there was joy on Fernandez’s face, too.
“A lot of people think I’m very focused in tennis, and I am,” Fernandez admits. “I am very focused in tennis.”
She can do no wrong today @leylahfernandez | #MubadalaCitiDCOpen pic.twitter.com/ERMpHgJN2Q
— Mubadala Citi DC Open (@mubadalacitidc) July 27, 2025
However, it took Fernandez rediscovering her joy in the game during her break after losing in the second round at Wimbledon, when she escaped to Mallorca for a few days and practiced with a couple of her youth coaches. By the time she arrived in Washington, D.C., Fernandez was a changed person – and her father was her guiding light through the whole thing.
“It’s tough to lose and [go] through that little rut, but I just want to keep competing, keep playing and put on a good show for the fans,” Fernandez said, with her trophy sitting by he side. “I’m very happy that I decided — that we both decided — to keep going in this crazy adventure and to never give up.”
A trophy fit for a Champion @leylahfernandez | #MubadalaCitiDCOpen pic.twitter.com/U8RUr8F0pI
— Mubadala Citi DC Open (@mubadalacitidc) July 27, 2025
During her trophy speech on Stadium Court, Fernandez dedicated her trophy to her mother, sister and physical trainer.
“I think getting this trophy means a lot to not only myself but to everyone in my team and family,” she said.
“The match was very solid from my part. I was very happy the way that I held my nerves,” Fernandez added. “I was definitely very nervous in the beginning, but I got to play my game in the important points and kind of pushed through those nerves, so I was super happy about that.
“My time in D.C. has been tremendous. I had a lot of fun. Ate some good food. Met some amazing people.”
DC love ❤️ #MubadalaDCCitiOpen pic.twitter.com/vMNNjm2RRJ
— Mubadala Citi DC Open (@mubadalacitidc) July 28, 2025
Now that Fernandez is back home in Montreal, where she will play Joint in the first round of The Omnium Banquet National on Tuesday, look for her to feast on some of her favorite Canadian cuisine like poutine this week.
“I love poutine,” she said. “I haven’t had a poutine in so long. The first thing I do when I get back to Montreal or Canada is Tim Hortons, Harvey’s [flame-grilled] hamburgers, maybe an Orange Julius, if I’ve got time, and I need to get a good poutine.
“And it’s a classic poutine, just fries, cheese curds and gravy, and a little bit of ketchup on the side. So, yeah!”
