Filipino-Canadian Leylah Fernandez beats Talia Gibson to win Singapore Open

ASM, Philippine Canadian Inquirer
September 28, 2026

Photo courtesy: The Straits Times

She’s also a Filipina! 

SINGAPORE — Filipino-Canadian tennis star Leylah Fernandez captured her first title of the 2026 season after defeating Australia’s Talia Gibson, 7-5, 6-0, in the Singapore Open final on Sunday, September 27. 

The world No. 31 was tested in the opening set as Gibson twice recovered from a break down to keep the contest level.

Fernandez held firm in the closing stages, taking the first set 7-5 before pulling away decisively in the second.

The 24-year-old Canadian then took control with two early breaks as Gibson struggled to regain momentum. Fernandez completed the shutout set, 6-0, to seal the championship in one hour and 38 minutes.

The victory marked Fernandez’s sixth career WTA singles title and her second WTA 500 crown. Her first WTA 500 championship came at the Mubadala Citi DC Open in Washington in 2025. 

Fernandez dropped just one set throughout her Singapore campaign.

Her run included a straight-sets victory over top seed and Roland Garros champion Mirra Andreeva in the quarterfinals before she rallied from a set down against Roland Garros runner-up Maja Chwalinska in the semifinals. 

Gibson, meanwhile, was competing in her first WTA Tour final. 

Born in Montreal, Fernandez represents Canada on the international stage. She has Filipino roots through her mother, Irene, whose parents immigrated from the Philippines, while her father, Jorge, is Ecuadorian. The WTA has described Fernandez as Filipino-Canadian through her maternal heritage. 

The Singapore triumph returned Fernandez to the winner’s circle for the first time in 2026 and added a sixth trophy to her WTA singles career.