Leylah Fernandez is back inside the WTA top 20. The Canadian from Laval, Quebec, rose five places to No. 18 in the latest world rankings on Monday, her first appearance in that bracket in more than four years. The movement follows a run to the final of the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo, where she was ultimately beaten by Russia’s Diana Shnaider.
A hard-fought final in Tokyo
Fernandez pushed Shnaider across two hours and 18 minutes on Sunday before going down 6-4, 5-7, 6-2. Although the trophy eluded her, the deep run was enough to restore her ranking momentum. On the way to the title match, she dispatched Belgium’s Elise Mertens, ranked 14th, in the round of 16. She then received a walkover against world No. 1 Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan in the quarter-finals.
A season of resurgence
The Tokyo result completes a strong stretch for the 24-year-old. She finished as runner-up in Ningbo, China, the previous week at another WTA 500 hardcourt event, losing 6-2, 6-2 to Rybakina in that decider. In late September, she captured her first title of the season at the Singapore Open, marking the sixth WTA Tour crown of her career. Fernandez last held a top-20 position in September 2022, shortly after reaching a personal best of No. 13.
Rybakina remains at the summit.
The top three is unchanged this week, with Rybakina at No. 1, Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus at No. 2, and Mirra Andreeva of Russia at No. 3.
Other Canadians on the move
Fernandez’s ascent means she has now moved ahead of Victoria Mboko of Burlington, Ontario, who slipped five spots to No. 20. Mboko has not played a competitive match since June because of a left knee injury. Bianca Andreescu of Mississauga, Ontario, jumped 20 places to No. 109 after winning the WTA 125 Queretaro Open in Mexico last weekend. Kayla Cross of London, Ontario, dropped eight places to No. 197.
Why it Matters
Fernandez’s return to the top 20 is more than a ranking fluctuation; it reaffirms Canada’s place among the elite in women’s tennis. After her breakthrough run to the US Open final in 2021, injuries and inconsistent form had pushed her down the standings. A title in Singapore and consecutive deep runs in Asia suggest she is once again equipped to contend with the best players in the world.
