Leela Fernandez recently opened her physical ability as a young player and highlighted how her parents supported her when the coaches raised concerns. When she was five years old, Fernandez picked up the racket and started competing at the age of 10.
At the age of 16, Fernandez participated in the Australian Open Girls singles, and paved the way to the final before losing to the top seed Clara Tasson. In the same year, she became Canada’s first female tennis player after the Eugene Bocard (who won the Wimbledon in 2012 as a junior). Fernandez achieved this feat at the French Open after defeating Emma Naro.
Although World No. 36 was successful as a junior player, it was not easy because he was not as fast as other girls, who raised concerns among the coaches. At a press conference after his match at the City Open, Fernandez considered how his coaches were upset with his physical abilities, but his parents defended it, saying that although he could not be like others, he had a heart and commitment to chase every ball with effort.
“I was probably the slowest of all the girls there,” said Fernandez. “The coaches were concerned, as if they were not physically good. They talked to my parents, and my parents said, “Yes, but if you have a tennis ball in front of him and you ask him to run for every ball, he is about to do it.” His heart and his own camp are much larger than most girls in this camp. “
Fernandez defeated Elena Ribakina 6-7 (2), 7-6 (3), 7-6 (3) to reach the last round of the City Open.
Layla Fernandez expressed her happiness after moving in the semi -finals at the City Open
Layla Fernandez reached the doubles semi -finals with her sister Bianka at the Canadian Open 2024 and lost the round to Gabriella Dabrosky and Erin Rootle. At a recent press conference, he said that about a year later the semi -final round (at the 2025 City Open) felt like progress. He expressed his happiness after saying that his hard work was being paid, and she wanted to keep focus and enjoy the moment.
“I think I’ve been about to reach a year, a year, a year, it’s been a while,” said Fernandez. “So for me, this is a good step. I see that the work I have been doing all year long is paying it now. We wish it was already paid, but we couldn’t really complain. We have to take a match at a time at a time, and we enjoy for a moment.
After winning the semi -finals in three sets, Layla Fernandez will close the horns with Anna Calnskaya in the final.
Modified by Anisha Chatterjee
