Leylah Fernandez — São Paulo Open 2026 Withdrawal
Leylah Fernandez was supposed to arrive in São Paulo as the tournament’s No. 1 seed and one of its headline attractions.
Instead, she never made it into Brazil.
The Canadian withdrew from this week’s WTA 250 at Parque Villa-Lobos after failing to obtain the necessary visa in time. The tournament initially attributed her absence only to “unforeseen circumstances,” but Brazilian reporting subsequently identified the visa problem.
The timing makes the withdrawal particularly frustrating. Fernandez’s appearance had been announced back in June, when she spoke enthusiastically about finally competing in South America and about her connection to the continent through her Ecuadorian father.
For all that connection, however, there is an interesting twist to the story.
At senior WTA level, Fernandez appears never to have played a tournament in South America.
Why Would a Canadian Need a Visa for Brazil?
The most likely explanation begins with a relatively recent change to Brazilian entry rules.
Since April 10, 2025, Canadian passport holders have once again required a visa to enter Brazil. For visits of up to 90 days, including sporting activities, Canadians must obtain an electronic visitor visa before travel. Brazil says the process is completed online and that, when the requirements are met, the e-Visa is normally issued electronically.
Canadian government travel advice also currently lists a tourist visa as required for Brazil.
That makes this less mysterious than it might initially sound. A Canadian player could previously travel to Brazil without this particular visa requirement, whereas Fernandez now needed approval before boarding.
What went wrong in her individual application has not been disclosed, so it would be wrong to claim that she applied late or submitted incorrect paperwork. The confirmed fact is simply that the visa was not obtained in time for her to enter Brazil and play the tournament.
São Paulo Draw Reshuffled Without Fernandez
Fernandez had been scheduled to face Japanese lucky loser Hayu Kinoshita in the first round.
Her withdrawal forced several changes.
Darja Semenistaja moved into a seeded position and was paired with Kinoshita, while Lithuanian lucky loser Justina Mikulskyte entered the main draw to face Paula Badosa.
That removed the player the tournament had spent months promoting as one of its major international attractions.
Fernandez Still Waiting for Her First WTA Match in South America
Fernandez has yet to play a WTA-level match in South America, despite her family ties to the continent.
Her previous appearances there came as a junior in 2018, when she competed at events in Brazil and Paraguay. Those included the Banana Bowl in Brazil, the Asunción Bowl in Paraguay and another Grade A event in Brazil.
The ITF also lists Fernandez among the former Banana Bowl champions.
| Level | Tournament | Country | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Junior | Banana Bowl | Brazil | February 2018 |
| Junior | Asunción Bowl | Paraguay | February 2018 |
| Junior | Campeonato Internacional | Brazil | March 2018 |
| WTA | No previous tournament found | — | — |
So São Paulo would not have marked Fernandez’s first appearance in South America, but it would have been her first WTA tournament on the continent.
Instead, that milestone will have to wait.
Instead, an immigration document stopped the return before it began.
For São Paulo, that means losing its intended top seed.
For Fernandez, it means the wait for a first WTA-level match in South America continues.