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Fernandez posted a 6-7, 7-6, 7-6 marathon triumph over Rybakina, while Kalinskaya breezed past Brit Raducanu in straight sets 6-4, 6-3.
Leylah Fernandez, of Canada, returns the ball against Jessica Pegula during a match at the Citi Open tennis tournament Thursday, July 24, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Canadian tennis star Leylah Fernandez moved into the final of the DC Open in Washington on the back of her semifinal win over Elena Rybakina on Sunday, while Anna Kalinskaya got the better of Emma Raducanu in the other semis encounter to secure her place in the summit clash.
Fernandez posted a 6-7, 7-6, 7-6 marathon triumph over Rybakina, while Kalinskaya breezed past Brit Raducanu in straight sets 6-4, 6-3.
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“It was definitely a tough match. It was a battle from beginning to end. In important moments, I was able to pull through,” Fernandez said following her win.
The three-setter lasted just under three hours and fifteen minutes as the Canadian edged out the Kazakh in stunning fashion in an encounter that witnessed thre tie-breakers.
“I wasn’t telling myself much in that moment. Listen to my coach and execute. Don’t overthink too much,” Fernandez added.
“If I was going to get rolled out in a stretcher today, then so be it, but I was just going to give it my all,” she averred.
Fernandez holds the advantage over Kalinskaya in the head-to-head encounters between the two as the Canadian has won their only previous meeting.
“I think for the both of us, it would be a tremendous result. We’ve come a long way from the 2021 US Open final,” Fernandez said of the finals rematch.
“She’s a very fast player, so it’s going to be very intense rallies. I just hope I’m going to play great and I want to enjoy it,” Kalinskaya acknowledged.
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Alex De Minaur got the better of Corentin Moutet in the men’s semifinal, while Davidovich Fokina eased past American Ben Shelton to book his berth in the summit clash against the Australian.
“It wasn’t pretty tennis, but I knew it was going to be a tricky match without a lot of rhythm,” De Minuar said.
“I had the mentality of doing whatever it took to get into the title match.”
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