Fernandez comes back to reach Singapore final
Leylah Fernandez recovered from a set down to beat Maja Chwalinska 1-6, 6-4, 6-2 in the Singapore Tennis Open semi-finals. The Canadian No 6 seed, ranked No 31 and playing as a wild card, will meet Australian Talia Gibson in her ninth WTA final. Fernandez said she had worked hard to regain her confidence, movement and mental freshness during a challenging season.
Fernandez lost the opening set 1-6, then reversed the semifinal 6-4, 6-2 against fifth-seeded Maja Chwalinska in Singapore. The Canadian, seeded sixth and ranked 31st, entered as a wild card and will face Australia's Talia Gibson in her ninth WTA final. She seeks a sixth career title and a second WTA 500 crown after Washington last year.
Earlier in the event, Fernandez beat top seed Mirra Andreeva, Alycia Parks and qualifier Kyoka Okamura. Chwalinska, a Roland-Garros finalist, had defeated Elise Mertens, Oleksandra Oliynykova and Rebecca Sramkova. She was playing only her second WTA 500 singles main draw.
Fernandez's comeback and final appearance could encourage players and fans dealing with confidence or form setbacks, showing that persistence may pay off. Her wild-card run may raise interest in the Singapore event and women's tennis locally, while a first meeting with Gibson could draw attention to emerging competitors. For younger athletes, seeing a top player openly discuss mental freshness and movement struggles may make such challenges feel more normal and manageable.