Leylah Fernandez’s quest to defend her D.C. Open title has come to an unexpected halt.
The 23-year-old powerhouse from Laval, Quebec, faced a tough opponent in Alexandra Eala from the Philippines, losing 6-2, 7-6 (1) in the second round on Wednesday after clinching the WTA 500 tournament last year.
Eala managed to convert four out of nine break points and dominated 63.3 percent of points on Fernandez’s second serve, sealing the match in a swift one hour and 53 minutes.
“I could sense she was playing at a higher level while I might have slipped a bit,” Eala shared, reflecting on her comeback in the second set. “These moments are indeed tricky when you realize your game isn’t at its peak and you strive for improvement, yet things just don’t seem to click.”
“Patience became crucial, as I worked through it, maintaining a strong mindset to uncover solutions.”
The seventh-seeded Fernandez now holds a record of 13-20 in singles for the season.
In addition, she and her doubles partner Anna Danilina from Kazakhstan faced an early exit in the women’s doubles tournament, losing to the duo of Tang Qianhui and Xu Yifan from China.
Looking ahead, the world No. 34 sets her sights on the National Bank Open presented by Rogers in Toronto, where main-draw singles play kicks off on Sunday.
Fernandez and her sister, Bianca, have also received a wild card entry for the women’s doubles tournament at Sobeys Stadium.
