‘Not Their Fault’ – Leylah Fernandez’s Bizarre Path to Queen’s Club Doubles Final Fuels Tennis Community Debate

Leylah Fernandez and her partner Laura Siegemund have reached the doubles final at the 2026 Queen’s Club Championships, giving the Canadian a shot at clinching her maiden tour-level doubles title. However, the duo’s journey to the final has raised eyebrows, putting the Queen’s Club Championships scheduling under scrutiny.

How Leylah Fernandez and Laura Siegemund Reached the Queen’s Club Doubles Final

Fernandez had a short-lived singles campaign at the WTA 500 event, suffering a 3-6, 7-6 (4), 7-5 loss to Katie Boulter in her opening match. The Canadian then shifted focus to the doubles contest, where she and Siegemund defeated Alexandra Panova and Demi Schuurs 6-2, 2-6, 11-9 in the first round.

The pair were set to face Serena Williams and Victoria Mboko in a blockbuster quarterfinal clash, but they received a walkover into the semifinals after Mboko’s knee injury forced a withdrawal. Fernandez and Siegemund were also handed direct entry into the final after Iva Jovic and McCartney Kessler pulled out of the event before their semifinal showdown.

The clash was originally scheduled to take place after Jovic’s 6-2, 6-2 loss to Emma Raducanu in the singles semifinal, with Raducanu having secured her quarterfinal win earlier in the day. However, Jovic, who had been competing with a strapped left ankle, pulled out of the doubles event, with the packed schedule potentially contributing to her decision.

Given the back-to-back withdrawals, Fernandez and Siegemund booked a spot in the doubles final after winning just one match. One fan highlighted the irony that Fernandez could win her maiden doubles title with such an unusual run after falling short in four previous tour-level finals.

“Imagine if this is how Leylah finally wins a doubles title… (It will be her fifth final in dubs on the main tour.),” one fan said.

MORE:‘There Was Only One Way’ – Emma Raducanu Opens Up on Queen’s Club Semifinal Win After Chaotic Schedule

Meanwhile, others scrutinized the scheduling at the Queen’s Club Championships, since rain disruptions forced several players to play multiple matches on the same day.

“Mess of a tournament. Not their fault though – that weather is to blame,” one fan commented.

“Because the Queen’s scheduling is stupid, Jovic & Kessler had to withdraw from the doubles, meaning Leylah & Siegemund progress to the final, having only had to win one match to get there. 😆,” another fan said.

Fans also argued that Jovic would have had very little time to rest before the doubles semifinal, considering her singles battle with Raducanu was the third match of the day at the Andy Murray Arena.

“It would have been too late to fit an entire match in, surely. Jovic didn’t finish her match till nearly 7, and would have needed a break before the doubles,” a fan shared.

“I thought that was likely tbh especially with having to play her singles match so late,” said another.

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Up next, Leylah Fernandez and Laura Siegemund will lock horns with Tereza Mihalíková and Olivia Nicholls in the doubles final at the WTA 500 event.