Anna Kalinskaya denied a blockbuster rematch between Leylah Fernandez and Emma Raducanu by ousting Britain’s Raducanu 6-4, 6-3 to secure her spot in Sunday’s DC Open final against Canada’s Fernandez.
The 26-year-old Russian, chasing her first WTA title, reached her third career tour final with the win, ending hopes for a rematch of the iconic 2021 US Open final, where Raducanu beat Fernandez 6-4, 6-3.
Fernandez reflected on that 2021 showdown: “We’ve both come a long way since then. It would have been a huge result for both of us.”
Fernandez earned her final berth after a marathon 3-hour, 12-minute battle against third seed Elena Rybakina, prevailing 6-7(2), 7-6(7), 7-6(7). “It was a fight from start to finish. I just focused on the big moments,” Fernandez said.
The Canadian holds a 1-0 career edge over Kalinskaya from their 2021 Guadalajara meeting. Kalinskaya knows the final won’t be easy: “She’s fast and the rallies will be intense. I just want to play great and enjoy it.”
Fernandez seeks her fourth career WTA title and first since 2023, while Kalinskaya aims to break through after finals appearances in Dubai and Berlin last year.
Meanwhile, Raducanu, now ranked 46th, hasn’t reached a final since her New York breakthrough.
On the men’s side, Australia’s 13th-ranked Alex De Minaur booked his place in the final with a 6-4, 6-3 win over French lucky loser Corentin Moutet. He’ll face Spain’s 26th-ranked Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, who knocked out eighth seed Ben Shelton 6-2, 7-5.
De Minaur and Davidovich Fokina are tied 2-2 in their rivalry, with De Minaur winning their last clash in a 2023 Canada semifinal.
Fernandez’s epic win over Rybakina saw both players only broken once, with Rybakina taking the first set in a tight tiebreak. Fernandez battled back, refusing to overthink key moments, and dominated the final two tiebreaks, overcoming leg cramps to seal the deal.
Kalinskaya’s win featured crucial breaks against Raducanu, including a decisive backhand winner in the second set.
De Minaur, seeking his 10th ATP title and revenge for his 2018 Washington final loss to Alexander Zverev, said: “It wasn’t pretty tennis, but I did whatever it took to reach the final.”
Davidovich Fokina, pushing for his first ATP crown after runner-up finishes earlier this year, cruised to victory in just 80 minutes.
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