Leylah Fernandez’s stunning run to the finals of the Pan Pacific Open has propelled the talented Canadian back into the esteemed top 20 of the WTA Tour world rankings for the first time in over four years.
Hailing from Laval, Quebec, Fernandez climbed an impressive five spots to secure the No. 18 ranking in the latest standings released on Monday. In a fiercely contested final, she battled through a gripping match against Russia’s Diana Shnaider, ultimately falling 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 after two hours and 18 minutes of intense play.
During her remarkable journey to the finals, Fernandez showcased her prowess by defeating 14th-ranked Elise Mertens from Belgium in the round of 16 and securing a walkover victory against top seed Elena Rybakina from Kazakhstan in the quarterfinals.
The 24-year-old recently emerged as a runner-up at the WTA 500 tournament in Ningbo, China, just a week prior, where she faced Rybakina in the final, suffering a 6-2, 6-2 defeat.
Earlier this season, Fernandez celebrated her first title at the Singapore Open in late September, marking the sixth WTA Tour title of her promising career.
This marks her return to the top 20 since September 2022, shortly after she attained her career-high ranking of No. 13.
Meanwhile, the top three rankings remained unchanged this week, with Elena Rybakina leading the pack, followed by Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus at No. 2 and Russia’s Mirra Andreeva at No. 3.
Fernandez has now surpassed Ontario’s Victoria Mboko, who slipped five positions to No. 20 due to inactivity caused by a left knee injury since June.
Additionally, Bianca Andreescu from Mississauga, Ontario, surged 20 spots to No. 109 following her victory at the WTA 125-level Queretaro Open in Mexico last weekend. In contrast, Kayla Cross from London, Ontario, fell eight places to land at No. 197.
