When you’re an elite athlete, rest is short-lived. And though Leylah Annie Fernandez took a few days to rest and relax after a breakthrough tennis season that saw her win twenty-five watches, win a title at the Monterrey Open, reach the finals of the US Open, and climb to number 24 in the world, she’s now back at work training for next season.
It wasn’t just her play that exploded this year, it was her popularity. The 19-year-old won the hearts of many tennis fans during her remarkable run at the US Open, which saw her win four consecutive 3-set matches against top players before losing in the finals. She hasn’t played a match since last month’s Indian Wells and is likely to skip the two tournaments in the WTA scheduled for December, to focus on the next Grand Slam: The Australian Open, which will be played starting January 17th.
And she’s getting in shape in a fun if grueling way. In a video shared on her Instagram, Leylah can be seen running with a parachute tied to her waist, to increase resistance.
She’s also shared stories of herself running, captioned “Regreso al trabajo fisico,” with a little description of her routine, and it’s clear that she is, indeed, back to working out.
Hopefully, all the hard work pays off, as we’re excited to follow her during the next tennis season and see how far she can go with a little more training and the experience gained from an amazing 2021.
