The 2026 Singapore Tennis Open concluded on September 27 with Canada’s Leylah Fernandez securing the singles title at the OCBC Arena in Kallang. Fernandez, seeded sixth, defeated unseeded Australian Talia Gibson in the final, overcoming a challenging first set to win 7-5, 6-0 in one hour and 38 minutes. This victory marked Fernandez’s sixth career singles title and came amid a tournament marked by several upsets.
The event, newly upgraded to WTA 500 status from its previous WTA 250 level in 2025, offered a total prize purse exceeding US$1.2 million (S$1.53 million). Over the nine-day tournament, approximately 50,000 spectators attended matches held on five indoor hard courts constructed specifically to meet WTA standards. The tournament featured a 28-player singles main draw and 16 doubles pairings.
Fernandez’s final victory followed a series of surprising early exits by higher-ranked players, including reigning French Open champion Mirra Andreeva. Philippine player Alexandra Eala, ranked 18th globally, also faced an unexpected defeat, losing to Tatiana Prozorova, who is ranked more than 100 places lower.
The transformation of the OCBC Arena into a professional tennis venue required extensive preparation, with a team of 300 workers spending 17 days setting up courts and fan zones. The centerpiece Center Court, with a seating capacity of 4,000, and the approximately 1,000-seat Court 1 both took nine days to complete. To preserve the arena’s original parquet flooring and provide the necessary surface for competitive play, a multi-layered installation process was undertaken. This included laying a shock-absorbing underlay, multiple acrylic coatings designed for traction, and the careful marking of court lines.
Advanced technology was utilized throughout the tournament, including 12 Hawk-Eye cameras for electronic line calling and additional cameras monitoring players’ feet during serves, assisting six umpires from different countries in officiating closely contested points. Despite technological support, traditional elements remained integral, with over 80 ball kids, aged six to 15, trained rigorously by the Singapore Tennis Association, ensuring smooth ball retrieval and play.
Fernandez expressed gratitude to fans for their support of women’s tennis throughout the event, acknowledging the collective efforts of all players. Meanwhile, Alexandra Eala reflected positively on her experience on social media, expressing appreciation for the tournament atmosphere and a commitment to return stronger in future competitions. The successful staging of the 2026 Singapore Tennis Open underscores Singapore’s growing profile as a host for premier international tennis events.