Leylah Fernandez, the 21-year-old Canadian tennis star, is gearing up for the US Open with renewed confidence and the unwavering support of her family. After a solid run on North American hard-courts, Fernandez is determined to make a deep run at the year’s final major.
Fernandez’s recent performances have been marked by resilience and determination. In Cincinnati, she claimed her biggest win of the year over world No. 4 Elena Rybakina and pushed world No. 6 Jessica Pegula to the brink in a nail-biting quarterfinal. She also reached the doubles final with Yulia Putintseva, knocking out the top-seeded team along the way.
Beyond her on-court success, Fernandez has found solace and inspiration in the presence of her younger sister, Bianca Jolie. Bianca has been traveling to tournaments with the family and has even taken on coaching duties in a pinch.
“I’m just happy to have her here and to spend time with her!” Fernandez said. “I haven’t seen her as much as I would want to this year, so it’s good to spend time with her and to have her perspective, too.”
The sisters’ reunion has had a positive impact on Leylah’s tennis. They reached the doubles semifinals in Toronto and turned heads in Cincinnati when Bianca briefly coached Leylah during her first-round match.
“My sister is basically like a mini-dad!” Fernandez said. “It’s kind of funny to see how she uses the same words, same vocabulary as him.”
Fernandez’s focus now shifts to the US Open, where she reached the final in 2021. She is determined to treat the tournament like any other, despite having unfinished business at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
“We’ve been working a lot on self-belief and self-confidence in the past few years,” she said. “I’m happy that I have the right team around me to remind me that there’s so much more that I can do.”
Fernandez will face Anastasia Potapova in the first round of the US Open on Tuesday. With her family by her side and a renewed sense of purpose, she is poised to make a strong run at the title.
