Leylah Fernandez faces Maja Chwalinska in the semifinals of the Singapore Tennis Open, a first career meeting between two players who have been the standout performers of the week on the indoor hard courts.
Fernandez, ranked 29th, has been in excellent form, dropping just one set through the tournament and delivering her best win of the week in the quarterfinals, beating Mirra Andreeva 6-2, 7-5 while hitting 27 winners. Her lefty spin and improved serve have made her a tough out for higher ranked players all season, and this is now her first semifinal of 2026.
Chwalinska, ranked 25th, has arguably been even more dominant. She has not dropped a set all week and blitzed Elise Mertens 6-2, 6-2 in the quarterfinals with 23 winners of her own. Her flat, first strike ball striking is well suited to the quicker indoor courts in Singapore, and she has looked comfortable closing out matches without letting opponents settle into rhythm.
There is no head to head between the two, so this comes down to who imposes their game plan first. Chwalinska's flatter, faster strikes could rush Fernandez if the Canadian's footwork is not sharp early, while Fernandez's variety and lefty angles have a track record of unsettling ball strikers who prefer pace on pace.
Both players are playing some of the best tennis of their season, which makes this a genuine coin flip on paper. Chwalinska's dominant scorelines through the week and her slightly cleaner ball striking give her a narrow edge in a match that should be decided by whoever serves better under pressure in the final set.
**Pick: Chwalinska in three sets. Confidence: medium.**
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