Mirra Andreeva sets up Leylah Fernandez quarter-final showdown as reigning champion receives walkover
WTA
The Singapore Tennis Open continues with the big names
entering the fray. The main one was Mirra Andreeva, who headlined the day with a
comfortable win, while the reigning champion, Elise Mertens, breezed through without
even hitting a ball.
The Belgian was supposed to play against Barbora Krejcikova
in the second round. That contest would never occur. Just before the tie,
Krejcikova would withdraw with a back injury.
The Czech had played in a tense three-set thriller the day
before, where she saved two match points. However, she did take a medical timeout
during the contest, and that problem has seemed to prevent her from continuing
her campaign in Southeast Asia. That means the No.4 seed advances despite not
yet featuring on court.
Andreeva dazzles in commanding display
After the likes of Jessica Pegula and Amanda Anisimova
withdrew, Andreeva is the big favourite to take this title. She had little
issue in disposing of Aliaksandra Sasnovich 6-2, 6-2.
The Russian is targeting a fourth WTA title of 2026 to add
to the Roland Garros triumph. This time last year, she was struggling for form
which saw her cruelly miss out on a WTA Finals debut. Determined not to make
the same mistake, she features in Singapore and has sent out a statement of
intent.
She exploded out of the blocks, getting two breaks en route
to a 4-1 lead. Sasnovich did respond by reducing the deficit to one break, but
that was instantly corrected by Andreeva who served it out with ease to take a
one-set lead.
Andreeva again broke to start the set, but this time
Sasnovich responded instantly, keeping tabs with the World No.5. It was very
brief. Andreeva snuck back ahead before extending her advantage to lead 5-2.
She converted a first match point and waltzed into the quarter-final.
Mirra Andreeva dropped just four games in a dominant victory
Chwalinska and Fernandez reach quarter-finals in Singapore
From one Roland Garros finalist to another, Maja Chwalinska
has struggled for form since that magical run. In fact, this is the first time
since Paris that she has won more than one singles match in the same tournament.
This was done in some style, battering a hapless Oleksandra Oliynykova 6-0,
6-1.
Just 59 minutes it took for the Pole to prevail with not
much of a challenge coming back at her. The first set took 25 minutes, in which
Chwalinska did not face a break point. Oliynykova then seemed to be starting a
fight back with a break of serve to commence the second set, but that was not
the case. Chwalinska converted three from three break points and dropped just
eight points in the rest of the match, again winning six consecutive games.
Culminating the action was Leylah Fernandez who tackled
Alycia Parks. There was little problem for the former US Open finalist who kept her opponent at arm's length, prevailing 6-4, 6-3.
Read also
The first set was a very one-sided affair. After Parks
levelled at 30-all after holding serve, she would not win another point for
some time. In fact, the Canadian won 14 points on the bounce, breaking twice to
go 4-1 up. This awful period was almost made up for as Parks won three games in
a row to close the gap to 5-4. Fernandez had one more chance to serve it out,
and to her relief did so to get the first set under her belt.
A trio of breaks went the way of Fernandez, and soon enough
she had two match points against the American’s serve. A third one came along,
and Fernandez stopped faffing around to set up a mouth-watering tie against
Andreeva.
Samuel GillEditor-in-Chief
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has a broad background in tennis media. In his current role, he works closely with editors and writers to ensure coverage meets clear journalistic standards, with particular attention to verification, consistency, and timely updates when new information becomes available.
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- I, like writer of this wonderful article, also picked Noskova to win this entire thing. I would love it if she and Andreeva are in the final.Rapunzel12-11-2026
- "Priorities", Saba... spend less time in front of cameras, anti-Social Media, selfies and back to Tennis.
mandoist12-11-2026 - Tell this to Andreeva!mandoist12-11-2026
- Andreeva with 11 games in a row to add to Saba's downward spiral issue !!! Personal feelings aside... Jess Pegula may want to reassess her evaluation of Mirra's abilities.mandoist12-11-2026
- I predicted whenthe list was finalised that Linda Noskova would win the WTA Finals and her matches against Gauff and Kostyuk prove that. She is the best (underrated) player in the world!Rapunzel11-11-2026
- Either Lena has a chronic internal ailment (i.e., colitis, enteritis, Crohn's, or some type of lower abdomen issue) -- or she is once again dealing with 'Vukovitis'. Mental stress can indeed cause lower body pains. No matter... whatever is truly going on sucks. "Virus" excuse is getting a bit old -- and often -- at this point.mandoist09-11-2026
- Ironically, Martina became a U.S. Citizen about the same time as the Orange Convicted Felon & Abuser was just beginning on his road to losing all Daddy's Millions!!mandoist09-11-2026
- "Another fresh start is in the cards." Thanks for the Humor!! I'm guessing this is the minimum one can do to keep all your sponsors hanging-on in perpetuity?mandoist09-11-2026
- Vukov is doing this to Lena... AGAIN!!!!! WTA's autonomous collective should be dismantled for allowing Vukov to re-emerge from his hand-slapping suspension. Just ask WTA employees how that's been going lately as they witness his continued verbal abuses. Women's Pro Tennis should start over.mandoist08-11-2026
- Can't help but suspect Vukov is back to his old self again. Thank you, WTA. Perhaps you can give them a "Battling Couple of the Year Award 2026" ??mandoist08-11-2026
