Key Takeaways
- Leylah Fernandez recovered from a 1-6 first set to defeat Maja Chwalinska 1-6, 6-4, 6-2 in the Singapore semifinals.
- Speaking on court, Leylah Fernandez admitted: “Maja, she’s such an amazing player, very tricky to play against. She doesn’t give you the same ball twice, not even three times.”
- Fernandez moves into the final to face 22-year-old Talia Gibson as she bids for her 6th career WTA singles crown.
Canadian battles back after difficult opening set
Leylah Fernandez mounted a spirited comeback at the Singapore Open semifinals, recovering from a one-sided opening set to defeat Poland’s Maja Chwalinska 1-6, 6-4, 6-2. The sixth-seeded Canadian, who reached the 2021 US Open final, found herself completely overwhelmed at the start against an opponent showcasing exceptional variety.
Chwalinska, the 2026 French Open runner-up and tournament fifth seed, unsettled Fernandez with a steady diet of slices and heavy topspin. Fernandez surrendered four service breaks in the first set as the Polish player dictated play from all areas of the court.
Turning the tide in the second and third sets
The Canadian adjusted her tactics in the second set, claiming an early break to build a 3-1 advantage. Although Chwalinska recovered the break in the sixth game to level the set, Fernandez raised her aggression when it mattered most, firing back-to-back winners to secure a break for 5-4 before serving out the set to force a decider.
A crucial moment arrived at the beginning of the final set. After holding serve in the opening game, Chwalinska generated a break point in the second game. Fernandez held firm to deny the opportunity, which completely flipped the momentum. As the Polish fifth seed began to misfire and fade physically, Fernandez seized control by sweeping five consecutive games to establish a 5-1 cushion before serving out the victory.
Leylah Fernandez praises opponent and credits Singapore crowd
Speaking in her on-court interview following the match, Fernandez gave full credit to Chwalinska for making their first career encounter exceptionally challenging.
“Maja, she’s such an amazing player, very tricky to play against,” Fernandez explained. “She doesn’t give you the same ball twice, not even three times.”
The 24-year-old Canadian also acknowledged her initial struggles to handle the Polish star’s unorthodox rhythm.
“I knew it was going to be tough, and from the beginning, I guess I was just too, I was a little shocked, and then also I got a little too frustrated,” Fernandez stated.
Fernandez was quick to highlight the impact of the spectators in helping her stage the turnaround.
“Of course the crowd definitely helped me out to reset in the second set,” Fernandez said. “Without you guys, I don’t think I would be in the finals, so thank you so much for the support and always believing in me.”
Championship clash against Talia Gibson awaits
Following her semifinal triumph, Fernandez advances to meet world No. 63 Talia Gibson in the Singapore final. The 22-year-old Australian and the 24-year-old Canadian have never played each other on the professional circuit.
Fernandez will be competing for her 6th career WTA singles title, targeting her first tour-level trophy since October 2025.
WTA Singapore - Leylah Annie Fernandez's projected path
Fernandez in Singapore, ranking, and results in 2026
Now the world no.31, Leylah owns an overall 21-23 record in 2026. Leylah is competing in Singapore where she managed to beat the world no.322 Kyoka Okamura 6-2 6-3, the world no.70 Alycia Parks 6-4 6-3, the world no.5 Mirra Andreeva 6-2 7-5 and the world no.25 Maja Chwalinska 1-6 6-4 6-2.
Leylah Annie Fernandez will square off with the world no.63 Talia Gibson in the final on Sunday at 5:00 pm on Center Court. In the past, they have never competed against each other up to now in top competitions.
The Canadian won 5 titles in her career: all of them conquered on hard courts. (See the list of her titles)
