Fernandez Opens Washington, DC Defense With Aggressive Aim

By Richard Pagliaro | Monday, July 27, 2026
Photo credit: Jeff Dean/Wick Photography for Mubadala DC Open

Spin control is one of Leylah Fernandez’s best assets on court.

The defending Mubadala DC Open champion Fernandez imparted an assertive twist on her title status returning to action today.

The seventh-seeded Fernandez swept Magda Linette 6-1, 6-4 to score her sixth straight win in Washington, DC.

Afterward, the defending champion credited an aggressive mindset for improving to 13-18 on the season.

“There’s definitely some nerves, a little bit of pressure, because you’re a defending
champ,” Fernandez said. “You’re also defending so many points. You can’t really escape that word “defending champ” because it’s kind of everywhere. You see your name in the stadium beside Alex de Minaur, so it’s like you can’t escape it.

“But my coaches have done a great job throughout the weeks working together saying, Hey, we’re coming in here to earn it. We’re not here to defend anything because
we’re not a defensive team. We’re an aggressive team.”

To that end, Fernandez beat world No. Linette to the ball and applied her quick court coverage and skill straddling the baseline to take the ball on the rise in charging through nine of the first 10 games today.

“I mean, for myself, coming into this match the goal was to move well, fast, and to just focus on the ball,” Fernandez said. “I’m glad that I did that throughout the match and I was able to find
solutions at the end to get the win.

“Coming to Washington, it’s definitely an area of excitement. I’m excited to be here, and hopefully I can repeat. If not, then as I said, then it’s going to be a good tune-up tournament for the rest of the hard court and just see what improvements I can make.”

It’s been nearly two months since the Canadian left-hander won back-to-back matches. Fernandez, who lost in the first round of four of her last five tournaments, will try to score successive wins for the first time since Strasbourg in May.

It won’t be easy. Next up for Fernandez is either 21-year-old Filipina phenom and fellow lefty Alexandra Eala or Olympic gold-medal champion Zheng Qinwen next.

“Both players are tricky. Qinwen, she’s a tough opponent to play,” Fernandez said. “She’s coming back from an injury. She’s playing really well, very powerful.

“Alex, she’s having a tremendous year, winning some tough matches, coming off a great Wimbledon run.

“So they’re both coming in with some good confidence. Either player, it’s going to be a tough match. For myself, I’m just going to focus on my own game and what I can do to neutralize them and make them uncomfortable.”

A year ago, Fernandez and Venus Williams made an inspired run to the US Open doubles quarterfinals.

Next month, Fernandez will take a US Open title shot alongside another explosive American partnering Frances Tiafoe in US Open Mixed Doubles. Tiafoe was originally scheduled to partner long-time friend Hailey Baptiste, who tore her ACL in her left knee at Roland Garros in May.

Fernandez texted fellow lululemon ambassador Tiafoe and asked him to play. Big Foe accepted the offer creating what promises to be a popular mixed doubles pairing with 2021 US Open singles finalist Fernandez and two-time US Open singles semifinalist Tiafoe.

The 23-year-old Fernandez has high hopes for the partnership.

“We were trying to think of different partners, maybe who I can message. Frances was definitely at the top of my list,” Fernandez said. “When I first messaged him, I knew he was playing with
Hailey, and it was unfortunate that she sustained an injury at Roland Garros, but yes, I was kind of waiting a little bit. I was also trying to look at different options, but Frances came back to me and said, Yeah, let’s do it, let’s play, and hopefully we can do well.

“It’s going to be a great atmosphere. I know he loves the energy, and I love it, too. Hopefully we can go far.”