Fernandez Withdraws From WTA 250 Hong Kong
The No. 3 seed pulled out before her first-round match, with Mika Stojsavljevic taking her place in the draw.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Tennis
Leylah Fernandez withdrew from the WTA 250 Hong Kong tournament just before her scheduled first-round match against Sofia Kenin. Mika Stojsavljevic replaced her in the draw.
Why it matters
The withdrawal removes a top seed from the Hong Kong field and comes after a strong run for Fernandez across the Asian swing. It also shifts the first-round matchup, changing the draw for the event.
Fernandez went 15-4 across the Asian swing, reaching three finals and winning one title, while holding the No. 3 seed in Hong Kong at a No. 18 world ranking. The reason for her withdrawal was not disclosed in the available extraction.
The players
Leylah Fernandez
A Canadian tennis player and former US Open finalist who was the No. 3 seed at the WTA 250 Hong Kong event.
Sofia Kenin
A former Australian Open champion who was scheduled to face Fernandez in the first round before the withdrawal.
Mika Stojsavljevic
A tennis player who entered the Hong Kong draw as Fernandez's replacement in the first-round match.
The details
Fernandez withdrew shortly before the start of her first-round match against Sofia Kenin on Wednesday. Stojsavljevic was placed into the draw in her stead, while Fernandez had played every week of the Asian swing that began in late September.
Timeline
Late September 2026: Fernandez's Asian swing begins, including her Singapore WTA 500 title.
Wednesday, November 4, 2026: Fernandez withdraws from Hong Kong and Stojsavljevic replaces her.
Season Trajectory
Fernandez's Asian swing, which included a Singapore title and three finals, was among the stronger stretches of her recent season. Her early exit from Hong Kong cuts short a run that had built her profile on the tour's Asian leg.
For fantasy and betting players tracking Fernandez, her withdrawal removes her from the Hong Kong draw and opens a first-round slot for Stojsavljevic. Readers following her results should note that her Hong Kong matches will not count toward her record for the event.
The takeaway
Fernandez's strong Asian swing shows how quickly a player's position can change, and a single withdrawal can reshape an entire tournament draw. Readers tracking the tour should watch how her schedule adjusts in the coming weeks.
Further reading
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