Fernandez Dominates Kalinskaya, Wins DC Open Title

Leylah Fernandez
Leylah Fernandez (photo: Wick Photography/Mubadala Citi DC Open)

WASHINGTON, July 28, 2025 (by Michael Dickens)

A young fan of Canada’s Leylah Fernandez, sitting behind the south baseline of Stadium Court at the William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center in Rock Creek Park, held aloft a hand-made poster sign that read: “Go Leylah, You Are The Best!”

It was heartfelt and colorful – and guess what? There was some truth to that statement on this hot and sticky Washington, D.C. summer afternoon as the women’s final of WTA 500-series Mubadala Citi DC Open took place in the nation’s capital city, where the 36th-ranked Fernandez opposed No. 48 Anna Kalinskaya of Russia.

As it happened, from first ball to last ball, Fernandez was a determined woman – a player on a mission – and she dominated Kalinskaya in all facets of the match. By the end of the 69-minute title final, the 22-year-old Montreal native raised her arms in celebration with 6-1, 6-2 victory, good for her fourth career WTA Tour title – and first at the 500 level. 

On her third championship point, ahead a set and a double break, Fernandez won after Kalinskaya struck a forehand into the net. After the 5-foot-6-inch Fernandez secured the championship victory, she beamed a big smile as she gently stroked a tennis ball into the crowd. Then, after she hugged Kalinskaya at the net, the Canadian queen of the U.S. capital city walked back on the court and blew kisses to her fans, bent down and tapped the hard-court surface once with her right hand and kissed her tennis racquet she held high with her left hand. Finally, she sprinted over to embrace her father and coach, Jorge Fernandez.

“The match was very solid from my part. I was very happy the way that I held my nerves,” Fernandez said during her champion’s news conference. “I was definitely very nervous in the beginning, but I got to play my game in the important points and kind of push through those nerves, so I was super happy about that.”

In a match-up of former Top-20 players that began 15 minutes later than scheduled due to area thunderstorms, Fernandez and Kalinskaya outran a later storm that delayed the start of the men’s final by 45 minutes. Fernandez prevailed by winning 75 percent of her first-serve points. She hit 16 winners, converted four of six break points and outpointed Kalinskaya 58-36. Fernandez, who saved the only break point she faced, benefited from 23 unforced errors by Kalinskaya coupled with the Russian’s inability to win points on her second serve.

By the completion, Fernandez lifted her first trophy since winning a WTA 250 title at Hong Kong in 2023 – and if felt good. She was full of bubbly smiles, too, after winning the biggest title of her career. She dedicated the trophy to her mother, sister and her fitness trainer.

“I think getting this trophy means a lot to not only myself but to everyone in my team and family,” Fernandez admitted.

The 2021 US Open runner-up Fernandez’s most recent final came on grass at Eastbourne last year, when she lost to Daria Kasatkina, while the DC Open represented Kalinskaya’s third career final – and third loss in a final – and, alas,  she walked off the court with the finalist’s trophy once again.

“I had a couple of good wins, so I’m definitely going to remember that and learn from that and from today’s match, as well,” said Kalinskaya afterward. She defeated 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu in the semifinals to advance against Fernandez. “Of course it’s not the way I wanted to finish the tournament, but tomorrow it’s already new tournament [Montreal], so hopefully I can have this confidence to play better next week.”

Meanwhile, for Fernandez, the quick and breezy final was in sharp contrast to her three-hour, 12-minute marathon semifinal against World No. 12 Elena Rybakina the day before, which was decided by a third-set tie-break. However, it proved to be a fruitful week in Washington, D.C., in which she secured three Top-50 victories – against No. 38 Maya Joint of Australia, World No. 4 and top seed Jessica Pegula of the United States and the third-seeded Rybakina, plus a solid – albeit grueling – quarterfinal win over 97th-ranked American qualifier Taylor Townsend, in which she suffered from serious cramping.

The tri-lingual Fernandez – she’s fluent in English, French and Spanish – said one thing she’ll take away from winning is the ability to trust herself. “I know in the beginning of the tournament was still a lot of doubt, but as the tournament progressed, I was starting to play better,” she admitted. “You know, I have gone through so many different challenges this week. You know, I think it just has made me stronger in a way that if I can get through this week, through the cramps, through the long matches, through the heat, the humidity, I can get through anything.

“So I was just very happy that I got to not only push myself physically through the limits but also mentally. So that kind of will help me hopefully for future tournaments.”

Looking back, Fernandez said she will leave Washington, D.C. with no regrets as she heads home to Montreal to compete in the WTA 1000 Omnium Banquet Nationale this week. Finally, she can enjoy eating poutine, a favorite Canadian cuisine.

“I love poutine. I haven’t had a poutine in so long,” Fernandez said, smiling. “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! …

“I can’t complain about my time here in D.C.,” said Fernandez, whose ranking will rise to No. 24 on Monday. “Hopefully, I get to come back the next couple of years feeling healthy and playing in front of the crowd once again. … Today was a good day for me.”

Around the DC Open

Mark Ein, the chairman of the Mubadala Citi DC Open, said over the weekend that one of the lasting memories of this year’s tournament will be the appearance of future Hall of Famer Venus Williams, who, at age 45, became the oldest winner on the WTA Tour since Martina Navratilova won a round at Wimbledon in 2004 at age 47. 

“You know the news literally went global and it transcended sports,” Ein said. “It was on the Today Show and CNN globally. Obviously, it shines a spotlight on the event. 

“I actually think, to me the thing that matters the most to me, is how happy people in the community and the city were to lave her in their town. I have spent a lot of time with her, you know this week, and she really felt the love of this community. I think one of the reasons she came here was our relationship but then also just the relationship she has with our city. There is a lot of points of connection.

”I think the impact of her being here will have touched a lot of people in Washington.”

Sunday’s DC Open men’s results

Sunday’s DC Open women’s results

By the numbers

Leylah Fernandez is the first Canadian woman to make the DC Open final. Meanwhile, the last Russian to play in the woman’s final before Anna Kalinskaya this year, Svetlana Kuznetsova, won the event in 2018.

“Quotable …”

“They are all great athletes and they achieved so much. But honestly, I just prefer to be myself, and I have my path. Everyone is different. I mean, it’s crazy to think how much they win, but I don’t compare myself to anyone.”

– DC Open finalist Anna Kalinskaya of Russia, during her post-match news conference Saturday, asked whether she aspires to be a personality in the mold of Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, or to stay behind the scenes.

 

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