Canadian tennis star Leylah Fernandez is combining business with a bit of leisure this week in Hong Kong. The 2023 champion, who is once again making waves at the 2025 Hong Kong Tennis Open, took some well-deserved time off the court to explore the vibrant city as she powered her way into the quarterfinals of the WTA 250 event.
Leylah Fernandez Advances to the Last Eight at the Hong Kong Open
Fernandez, currently seeded second, is making her third appearance at the tournament. After receiving a first-round bye, the former US Open finalist breezed past Wang Xiyu 6-1, 6-4 in her opening match. She followed up with another dominant performance against Eva Lys, sealing a 6-4, 6-1 win to reach the last eight for the third time in her career.
Standing between her and another semifinal appearance is the seventh seed, Sorana Cîrstea.
Before turning her full focus to her quarterfinal showdown, the 23-year-old decided to embrace the charm of Hong Kong. Fernandez shared glimpses of her off-court adventures on social media, where she could be seen taking in the city’s skyline from atop a high-rise building, enjoying the local cuisine with her team, which includes her father and coach, Jorge, and soaking up the unique energy of the bustling metropolis.
Fernandez captioned her Instagram post, “Quarterfinals, team bonding & Hong Kong things 🐼🇭🇰✌️ @hk_tennisopen has been treating us well.”
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Fernandez will face Cîrstea for the second time on the WTA Tour. They met only once in the semifinals at the Japan Open, where the Canadian won 6-1, 2-6, 6-4. The winner of this match will face either sixth seed Anna Kalinskaya or third seed Victoria Mboko in the semifinals.
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Fernandez made her Hong Kong debut in 2023, where she defeated top seed Victoria Azarenka, Mirra Andreeva, Linda Fruhvirtova, and Anna Blinkova to reach the final, eventually defeating Kateřina Siniaková 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 to clinch her third singles title. In 2024, the third seed overcame Heather Watson, Kimberly Birrell, and Bernarda Pera to reach the semifinal, where she lost 4-6, 2-6 to Diana Shnaider.
What Milestones Has Fernandez Achieved During Her 2025 Campaign?
Fernandez has enjoyed a strong 2025 season, showing impressive form and consistency across surfaces. The Canadian star has captured two singles titles this year and reached several deep runs at WTA events. Fernandez’s campaign has been highlighted by her victories at the Mubadala Citi DC Open (WTA 500) and the Japan Women’s Open (WTA 250).
Beyond her title runs, Fernandez has maintained solid results throughout the year. She reached the third round of the Australian Open and US Open and also made a quarterfinal appearance in doubles at the latter, where she partnered with Venus Williams.
