Leylah Fernandez capped a productive 2026 WTA season by claiming the Singapore Tennis Open title, propelling the Canadian into the upper echelon of world tennis with a climb to world No. 18 in the rankings.
The breakthrough season featured more than just her Singapore triumph. Fernandez reached the finals at both the Ningbo Open and Japan (Tokyo) Open, demonstrating consistency across multiple hard-court tournaments in rapid succession.
Clijsters Highlights Mental Strength
Former world No. 1 and commentator Kim Clijsters has taken notice of Fernandez’s ascent, pinpointing what makes the Canadian competitor stand out. “The first thing that stands out to me is her competitive mindset. What I admire a lot about her is how feisty she is and how she will compete for every shot,” Clijsters said.
Clijsters, who has followed Fernandez’s development closely, identified areas of particular strength in the young player’s game. According to the Belgian legend, Fernandez has made notable improvements in her baseline play, a critical component for sustained success at tennis’s highest level.
Room for Growth
Despite the praise for her mental fortitude and baseline improvements, Clijsters noted that Fernandez still has work to do in certain technical aspects. The former champion suggested that Fernandez could benefit from developing additional power to finish rallies, a refinement that could elevate her performance further as she continues to compete against the world’s elite players.