WASHINGTON – Leylah Fernandez will seek her first WTA title of the season, while Anna Kalinskaya will try to get the first of her career in the DC Open final, a hard-court tournament.
Fernandez, the 2021 US Open runner-up, hit 12 aces and secured her second win of the week against a top 20 opponent. She defeated Elena Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion, with a score of 6-7 (2), 7-6 (3), 7-6 (3) in a match that lasted 3 hours and 16 minutes in Saturday’s semifinals.
Kalinskaya needed less than half that time to eliminate Emma Raducanu, with a score of 6-4, 6-3, thanks to 14 backhand winners in the other women’s semi-final. It is worth noting that Raducanu defeated Fernandez to win the championship at Flushing Meadows four years ago.
Both finalists are not classified. Fernandez, from Canada and 22 years old, is ranked 36th, while Kalinskaya, from Russia and 26 years old, is ranked 48th.
Kalinskaya reaches her third final at tour level. Last season, she failed to win in her two title matches.
Fernandez, who defeated Jessica Pegula, the top seed, earlier in the week, has three titles. Sunday’s match will be her seventh career final.
