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World number 31 Leylah Fernandez withdrew from the San Paulo hard-court tournament due to unforeseen circumstances, according to tournament organizers on September 14, 2026. The top-seeded player’s sudden exit reshaped the singles main draw, elevating Darja Semenistaja to the ninth seed and opening a “lucky loser” spot for Lithuania’s Justina Mikulskīte, who holds a WTA ranking of 237.
Draw Adjustments and Semeņistaja’s Path in San Paulo
Fernandez’s late scratch altered early-round matchups at the hard-court event. According to tournament updates, Semenistaja stepped into the main draw position previously held by Fernandez. Meanwhile, Mikulskīte filled the vacancy left by Semenistaja’s shift. Semeņistaja, ranked 120th globally, now faces Japanese competitor and fellow “lucky loser” Kinoshita, ranked 210th in the WTA rankings.
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Match schedules have not yet been published by tournament officials. For Semenistaja, the opening clash represents a quick reunion on the hard courts. The Latvian player previously met Kinoshita during the opening round of the US Open qualifying tournament, where Semenistaja secured a straight-sets victory of 6-2, 7-5.
Did you know? “Lucky loser” spots in professional tennis main draws are awarded to the highest-ranked players who lose in the final round of qualifying, stepping in when a main-draw competitor withdraws before their first match.
Recent Form and Next-Round Projections
Both competitors arrive in San Paulo following recent exits on the international circuit. According to tournament records, Semenistaja advanced to the US Open main draw as a lucky loser before falling in the opening round. She subsequently traveled to Colombia, where she suffered a first-match defeat at a WTA 125 level tournament.
Kinoshita spent the late summer competing in Europe following her qualifying loss to Semenistaja. According to tournament logs, the Japanese player reached the second round of the International Tennis Federation (ITF) Leirija W-50 event in Portugal at the turn of August and September.
The winner of the upcoming match between Semenistaja and Kinoshita will advance to the second round. There, they will face either Serbia’s Teodora Kostović, ranked 186th, or Brazilian wildcard entry Viktória Barroso, who holds a WTA ranking of 827.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Leylah Fernandez withdraw from the San Paulo tournament?
Tournament announcements stated that Fernandez withdrew due to “unforeseen circumstances.”
Who replaced Leylah Fernandez as the top seed?
Darja Semenistaja moved into the main draw and took over the ninth seed position, while Justina Mikulskīte entered the tournament as a lucky loser.
Where is the San Paulo tournament taking place?
The event is hosted on hard-court surfaces in San Paulo.
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