Kim Clijsters has noticed a change in Leylah Fernandez recently as she reaches two finals and wins title

Leylah Fernandez has played some of the best tennis of her career at the end of the 2026 WTA season.

The Canadian star won the Singapore Tennis Open right after the US Open, before reaching two finals in Ningbo and Tokyo. Fernandez now sits 18th in the WTA rankings, five spots off her career-high.

Former world number one and multiple Grand Slam champion Kim Clijsters has now delivered her verdict on Fernandez, highlighting the change she’s noticed in the 24-year-old recently.

Kim Clijsters noticed Leylah Fernandez moving closer to the baseline as her form improved

“The first thing that stands out to me is her competitive mindset. What I admire a lot about her is how feisty she is and how she will compete for every shot. That is one of the reasons why she has been able to be competing, a few years ago, for a Grand Slam title,” said Clijsters during the latest episode of ‘Love All‘.

Leylah Fernandez’s post-US Open record (14-4)

“She has that fighting spirit that, when you drop your game a little bit, she is right there, like a little pit bull that keeps biting your ankle. I think when it comes to her on-court tactics, the way she is able to redirect the ball is something that is hard to play against when you stand across the net from her.

“I think she has moved up into the court. She is standing closer to the baseline, which is a lot easier said than done, because you have to be fast enough and fit enough to be able to do that every shot.”

Clijsters continued, remembering an exhibition match she played against Fernandez in 2022. Clijsters defeated Fernandez 7-5 in Orlando, Florida.

“There are a few things that I really like about her. I played her in an exhibition in Florida years ago, after I retired, and I think she misses a little bit of power to really take over a rally,” she said.

“A lot of it is the same pace, and she is so good at that, but to be able to finish off a rally or to be able to hit a serve and then produce more power on the second shot to put her opponent under pressure more, it’s what she misses a little bit. That means that she has to work so hard to win her matches.”

Fernandez is up to 18th in the world rankings following a strong set of results at the end of the year. She had been expected to play one final tournament in Hong Kong, but withdrew earlier this week.

Official WTA Rankings

• 16. Naomi Osaka – 2,315 points
• 17. Alex Eala – 2,289 points
• 18. Leylah Fernandez – 2,201 points
• 19. Belinda Bencic – 2,168 points
• 20. Victoria Mboko – 2,143 points

Leylah Fernandez’s Grand Slam problem

Fernandez made headlines in 2021, reaching the US Open final where she lost to Great Britain’s Emma Raducanu. She returned to the quarter-final stage of a Grand Slam a year later at Roland Garros, but has struggled ever since.

The Canadian hasn’t reached the fourth round at any of her last 17 Grand Slam events. Fernandez lost in the first round six times, the second round seven times, and the third round four times.

Leylah Fernandez’s Grand Slam results since 2022 French Open

• First round defeats – 6
• Second round defeats – 7
• Third round defeats – 4

Only time will tell if Fernandez can carry the momentum from the end of 2026 through to the 2027 season and the Australian Open to end her concerning Grand Slam streak. The 2027 Australian Open begins on January 17.