In a major upset at the 2024 Mubadala Citi DC Open, Canada’s Leylah Fernandez stunned world No. 4 Jessica Pegula in a gripping three-set clash, winning 6-3, 1-6, 6-4 on Thursday evening in Washington, D.C.
The result came just a day after second seed Emma Navarro also exited the tournament early, marking back-to-back upsets of top contenders. Fernandez, a 2021 US Open finalist, fought back from an early break in the decider to secure a place in the quarterfinals.
The 22-year-old left-hander showed resilience and tactical adjustment in the final set, ultimately clinching the win as Pegula’s forehand clipped the net and flew wide on match point.“In the beginning of the third set, I didn’t do many adjustments. When I went to wipe off some sweat, my coach was telling me to stay positive, to think of something positive, to switch the mentality. It helped,” Fernandez said in her post-match interview with Luke Jensen.
Leylah Fernandez Scores Another Top-5 Win
This victory marks Fernandez’s second career win over a Top 5 player since her memorable run to the 2021 US Open final, where she notched three such wins. Her last Top 5 win came at the 2024 Cincinnati Open when she edged out then world No. 4 Elena Rybakina.
Now into the quarterfinals, Fernandez will face former doubles partner and fellow lefty Taylor Townsend in what promises to be another exciting match. Townsend has been in red-hot form, demolishing sixth seed Sofia Kenin 6-3, 6-0 in her previous match, with 17 aces to her name.
Jessica Pegula’s Title Defense Hopes Crushed
Jessica Pegula, returning to the site of her breakthrough WTA title in 2019, saw her campaign cut short in disappointing fashion. The 31-year-old American entered Washington following a first-round exit at Wimbledon, where she was defeated by Elisabetta Cocciaretto despite a strong win over world No. 1 Iga Swiatek just prior in Bad Homburg.
This early loss could have a serious impact on Pegula’s WTA rankings. She enters a pivotal stretch in her season, needing to defend a huge chunk of points. Following the 2024 Paris Olympics, Pegula is expected to defend her WTA 1000 title in Montreal and back-to-back runner-up finishes in Cincinnati and the US Open. That 15-2 run in 2023 accounts for nearly 46% of her current points total.
Fernandez vs Townsend Up Next
With this victory, Leylah Fernandez earned her first win in three meetings against Pegula, all of which came on U.S. outdoor hard courts. She now faces a rejuvenated Taylor Townsend, who is making waves not just in doubles but in singles as well.
The all-lefty showdown will determine who advances to the semifinals in this unpredictable WTA 500 tournament, where top seeds continue to fall.
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