ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 06: Leylah Fernandez of Canada hits a forehand in her match against Iga Swiatek of Poland during day five of the 2022 Adelaide International at Memorial Drive on January 06, 2022 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)
Leylah Annie Fernandez has taken the world of tennis by storm. The 19-year-old, who rose to tennis stardom by reaching the finals of the US Open last year, and who is now in the WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) Top 20, will surely be someone to watch in the tennis world for years to come. That’s partly because of her fighting spirit, her enthusiasm for the game, and of course, the way she keeps setting higher goals for herself.
But who is Leylah Annie Fernandez and why is she someone whose career you should be following? We’ve compiled a list of 5 things you should know about her that double as reasons why she’s someone to keep an eye on!
Fernandez was born in Montreal, Canada, to an Ecuadorian father and a Filipino-Canadian mother. The WTA Tour is made up of many players from many different nationalities, but that alone makes Fernandez a rarity in a sport that has been dominated by the same names, and the same countries, for many years.
Bianca Jolie Fernandez is also a tennis player! One year younger than her big sister, Bianca made her WTA main draw debut at the 2022 Monterrey Open, playing doubles with her sister. Sadly, they lost in the first round, but this is surely just the beginning of many more teamups for the Fernandez sisters. Particularly considering their father, former soccer player Jorge Fernandez, serves as coach for both of them.
Lululemon, Google, and Gatorade. Fernandez has some big-name sponsors, always a really good sign when it comes to a young player. Why do big brands want to sponsor you, after all? Because they see some promise in you. And though Fernandez is just 19, and still has a lot to learn, and a lot to experience, the trust of those big companies means a lot. And those three big ones are not the only ones, as she also has deals with Asics, Telcel, Birchbox, among others.
Yes, that’s right, Fernandez is a multilingual threat! The tennis star speaks fluent Spanish, English, and French. The latter two come from being born and raised in Montreal, and the first comes from her father’s Ecuadorian roots. And we’re not just talking a few words here and there, Fernandez has used her skills to do ads in French.
One of the things that made Fernandez’s 2021 US Open run so exciting – and shocking, was the caliber of players she had to beat to get to the final. Indeed, Fernandez had to contend with three Top 5 players and a former champion in four consecutive three-set matches to earn a spot in her first major final. And though she didn’t end up winning that US Open, just the fact that she was able to prevail against such competition made it so she won the hearts of fans everywhere – us included.
