Leylah Fernandez and her partner Laura Siegemund have reached the doubles final at the 2026 Queen\u2019s Club Championships, giving the Canadian a shot at clinching her maiden tour-level doubles title. However, the duo\u2019s journey to the final has raised eyebrows, putting the Queen\u2019s Club Championships scheduling under scrutiny.<\/p>\n
How Leylah Fernandez and Laura Siegemund Reached the Queen\u2019s Club Doubles Final<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
The clash was originally scheduled to take place after Jovic\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cImagine if this is how Leylah finally wins a doubles title\u2026 (It will be her fifth final in dubs on the main tour.),\u201d one fan said<\/a>.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n MORE: \u2018There Was Only One Way\u2019 \u2013 Emma Raducanu Opens Up on Queen\u2019s Club Semifinal Win After Chaotic Schedule<\/a><\/p>\n Meanwhile, others scrutinized the scheduling at the Queen\u2019s Club Championships, since rain disruptions forced several players to play multiple matches on the same day.<\/p>\n \u201cMess of a tournament. Not their fault though \u2013 that weather is to blame,\u201d one fan commented<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause the Queen\u2019s 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. \ud83d\ude06,\u201d another fan said<\/a>.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n \u201cIt would have been too late to fit an entire match in, surely. Jovic didn\u2019t finish her match till nearly 7, and would have needed a break before the doubles,\u201d a fan shared<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cI thought that was likely tbh especially with having to play her singles match so late,\u201d said another<\/a>.<\/p>\n