Leylah Fernandez takes down a lacklustre Mirra Andreeva to reach semi-finals in Singapore

Leylah Fernandez conjured up a huge surprise against an underwhelming Mirra Andreeva at the Singapore Tennis Open. The Canadian put on a great display of tennis to take down the number one seed 6-2, 7-5 to reach the semi-finals for the first time on the WTA Tour in 2026.

While Fernandez played a very good match, it just did not seem like Andreeva’s day. An abundance of unforced errors and sloppy play led the World No.5 to become exasperated on court.

She was the big favourite to go and clinch this title. Jessica Pegula and Amanda Anisimova had previously withdrawn from the event while Alexandra Eala and reigning champion Elise Mertens were dumped out.

It seemed like her title to lose, but that is not the case anymore as Fernandez edges closer to a sixth WTA title. Three consecutive breaks went the way of Fernandez who stormed out to the first set. Andreeva’s emotions were visible on court, and this did not improve throughout. Despite initially leading the second set, Fernandez took back control and eventually saw it out as Andreeva attempted a comeback.

It was Andreeva who was on top in the early stages. A hold to love was completed in between two tense Fernandez holds, the latter seeing break points squandered by the Russian.

From virtually nowhere, Fernandez broke the serve and seized the initiative. That did not last long as Andreeva instantly broke back to make it 3-2. That was the last game she would win in this first set as the level drastically dropped. In turn, Fernandez was playing very well and capitalising on the sloppy errors Andreeva was completing.

She made it three consecutive breaks before holding to move 5-2 to the good. An agitated Andreeva gifted her the first set with an untimely double fault and had work to do with her visibly frustrated.

A negative and abject Andreeva continued to but put under the cosh, partly down to her own undoing. Fernandez missed two break points before the tide seemed to be turning as Andreeva broke the serve.

It was a false horizon. Three games later, the 19-year-old was trailing 4-2 and was handed a code violation for chucking her racket. Fernandez managed to make it four games on the trot and moved within one game of the match.

A hold to love by Andreeva halted the rot, but Fernandez would have the chance to serve it out. She fluffed her lines with a nervy service game and Andreeva dragged herself back into contention. It was all in vain as Fernandez marched ahead on her opponents' serve, taking a first match point to set up a semi-final showdown against Roland Garros finalist Maja Chwalinska.