WASHINGTON — Defending champion Leylah Fernandez praised Alex Eala’s recent rise after opening her Mubadala DC Open title defense with a 6-1, 6-4 win over Magda Linette on July 27, saying the Filipina is “having a tremendous year” ahead of a possible second-round meeting.
Fernandez, the 2025 Washington champion, said Eala’s recent results and confidence make her a dangerous opponent if the matchup materializes.
“Alex, she’s having a tremendous year, winning some tough matches, coming off a great Wimbledon run,” Fernandez said when asked about a potential meeting with either Eala or Qinwen Zheng. “So they’re both coming in with some good confidence.”
Fernandez said either player would present a challenge, but added that her focus remains on imposing her own game.
“Either player, it’s going to be a tough match,” she said. “For myself, I’m just going to focus on my own game and what I can do to neutralize them and make them uncomfortable.”
The Filipino Canadian left-hander began her return to Washington in convincing fashion, using a sharp return game early and steady serving late to close out the opening-round victory. She said one of the biggest positives was how solid she remained throughout the match.
“I didn’t give away too many free points, which definitely helped a lot,” Fernandez said. “At the beginning of the match what helped was the return where I kind of put pressure on her. Then as the match progressed, I would say my serve helped me a lot in keeping the lead and playing aggressively.”
Back in the nation’s capital as defending champion, Fernandez said the label brings some attention and nerves, but not as much pressure as outsiders might assume. She said her team has emphasized an attacking mindset built around earning results instead of protecting points.
“There is that sense of pressure, but it’s not so big as people think,” Fernandez said. “We’re coming here to earn our points and not to defend or not to get another title, but to earn it.”
She echoed that message later in the session, saying the word “defending” is impossible to avoid but does not change her approach.
“We’re not here to defend anything because we’re not a defensive team,” Fernandez said. “We’re an aggressive team.”
Fernandez also said returning to Stadium Court brought back strong memories from last year’s title run. Seeing her name displayed at the venue, she said, was both meaningful and motivating.
“It really means a lot, and it motivates me to keep going,” she said.
Washington marks another important stop in Fernandez’s hard-court buildup to the US Open, and she said she hopes to carry her early momentum deeper into the week. Whether her next opponent is Eala or Zheng, Fernandez made clear she expects a difficult test.
“At the end of the day, if I can do my objectives and work hard and fight, I can leave the court with no regrets regardless of the result,” she said.
