Leylah Fernandez overcomes abysmal start to defeat Maja Chwalinska to confirm Singapore Open final spot

Saturday, 26 September 2026 at 14:22

Leylah Fernandez is in a ninth WTA final after turning her semi-final clash against Maja Chwalinska around after a dreadful start. She came back to produce a flourishing finish to prevail 1-6, 6-4, 6-2 at the Singapore Tennis Open.

After a number of withdrawals from the event in Southeast Asia. Fernandez was one of the big names still in contention, and she took down the No.1 seed Mirra Andreeva in the quarter-finals in a terrific result. Chwalinska also came into this contest with some momentum behind her, defeating the reigning champion Elise Mertens.

The winner would take on Talia Gibson who was gifted a free pathway into a maiden WTA final thanks to Tatiana Prozorova being forced to withdraw from the tournament after a doubles incident.

Chwalinska seemed to be her opponent after dominating the early proceedings, winning 15 points on the bounce at one point. Fernandez struck late with a break of serve in the second set and overcame a break point opportunity by Chwalinska to blast clear, winning the third set at a canter to set up a final showdown against Gibson.

Laylah Fernandez battled past Maja Chwalinska to reach the Singapore Tennis Open final

Fernandez completes comeback against Chwalinska

From the start, it all went wrong for Fernandez. In the first four games, she managed to win just three points. She would also lose 15 points in a row at one point, picturing a dejected and frustrated tennis player.

Unforced errors were becoming costly, but on the other side of the court Chwalinska was flourishing as she romped away into a 5-0 lead. Fernandez got on the board with a break of serve, but the Pole would instantly clap back and in doing so sealed the first set.

Fernandez instantly found some momentum in the second set. She broke the serve before four consecutive holds finally saw this match settle with both players patiently waiting to strike.

It would be Chwalinska who fired back, winning three games on the spin while dropping just two points. Fernandez then produced a similar streak of games, but this sealed the second set. She was right back in this matchup with a third set on the cards for a spot in the WTA 500 final.

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Chwalinska had the chance to strike first but was not able to convert it. This would prove to be hugely costly. Fernandez would break twice in three games, winning all-but one point.

The former US Open finalist was flexing her muscles, and Chwalinska could not keep up. Another easy hold moved Fernandez withing one of the match. Chwalinska delayed the seemingly inevitable as Fernandez got it done on serve in the next game.

Lucas MichaelTennis Journalist

Lucas Michael is a tennis journalist based in Cambridge, UK, specializing in comprehensive coverage of the ATP and WTA tours. For the past 1.5 years, he has been a core contributor to TennisUpToDate, where he has authored more than 3,000 data-driven match reports, deep-dive analysis pieces, and engaging liveblogs.

Lucas pairs real-time statistical analysis with on-the-ground reporting, frequently traveling to tournaments to cover the action firsthand from the press box and player press conferences. This blend of advanced metrics and direct access allows him to provide sharp context regarding player form, tactical trends, and breaking tour developments.

He holds a BA (Hons) in Sports Journalism. Grounded in core journalistic ethics, Lucas places a strict emphasis on meticulous sourcing, editorial accuracy, and a commitment to updating live content swiftly as verified information emerges.

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