Leylah Fernandez kicked off her title defense at the 2026 Mubadala DC Open with a straight-sets win on Monday. The seventh-seeded Canadian beat Poland's Magda Linette 6-1, 6-4 in Washington, DC.
Leylah Fernandez Dominates 2026 DC Open's 1st Round
Fernandez needed just one hour and 19 minutes to close out the straight-sets victory. She broke Linette's serve five times on nine chances and added two aces of her own. Meanwhile, Linette managed only one break all afternoon.
The result is a welcome one for a player who has struggled to find consistency this season.
The 23-year-old from Laval, Quebec, sits at 13-19 in singles and has slipped to No. 34 in the WTA rankings. Yet the DC Open remains her comfort zone. She won the WTA 500 hard-court event here last summer, marking the most significant title of her career to date.
That familiarity gives her an edge as the draw gets tougher from here. Either Alexandra Eala of the Philippines or Zheng Qinwen of China awaits in the Round of 16.
For now, Fernandez has the momentum of a clean opening win. After a turbulent stretch on the WTA Tour, a strong run at the tournament where she hoisted the trophy just a year ago could be the reset her season needs.
