A story inspired by the Williams, Tyson, Messi, Mayweather…
Jorge Fernandez, the father coach, was inspired by Richard Williams, the father of Venus and Serena Williams, to guide his daughters Leylah (19 years old; 73rd world) and Bianca (17 years old; 1,040th) to tennis. About Leylah, the eldest, left-handed with a small stature (1.68 m), with determination pegged to the body, he had once explained Jorge to La Presse: "
I showed him the best champions in the world who are not no larger than the standard. In fact, which are smaller than the norm. I started with Mike Tyson. He was a heavyweight, but he was small. Messi is very small, but he's a monster internationally. I also showed him Floyd Mayweathyer.
Born in Montreal, Leylah Fernandez is fluent in English, French and Spanish, the result of her family heritage. Her father is Ecuadorian, her mother Canadian of Filipino origin.
A supporter named Magic Johnson.
The repeated performances of the young Canadian, ricochets which enchanted Flushing-Meadows: Naomi Osaka in the third round, then Angelique Kerber in the round of 16, before Elina Svitolina 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (5) in the quarterfinals final. Success and an attitude that won over Magic Johnson, the legendary Los Angeles Lakers and Dream Team playmaker, who posted on Twitter after his victory against Noami Osaka: "
If you haven't seen the most exciting US Open 19-year-old Leylah Fernandez you are really missing out on something. She has just beaten her opponent ranked 3rd and is on fire. It captivates the whole world.
"
It dusted off the history of Canadian tennis.
Installed for the first time in her young career in the last four of a major tournament, Leylah Fernandez is the third Canadian to reach the semi-finals at Flushing Meadows after Carling Bassett-Seguso in 1984 and Bianca Andreescu (winner in 2019). She is also the youngest semi-finalist of the US Open since Maria Sharapova, aged 18, in 2005. As in 2014 at Wimbledon (Eugenie Bouchard and Milos Raonic) two Canadians will therefore meet in the last four. 'a major tournament since Felix Auger Aliassime (21) is accompanying him.
Soon the Top 50.
She quickly climbs the steps of fame.
Laureate of Roland-Garros juniors (like Simona Halep, Elina Svitolina or Cori Gauff) in 2019, Leylah Fernandez opened her list of seniors in Monterrey last March (after a first WTA final in Acapulco in 2020).
Currently ranked 73rd in the world, it will enter the Top 50 for the first time next Monday.
His motto: “
Trust my game.
”
During her match against Elina Svitolina, Leylah Fernandez, who went through all the emotions, said: “
I only thought about trusting myself, trusting my game. every point, I always said to myself: trust your game, go get your shots, just see where the ball goes.
“To continue playing, refuse to retreat behind the baseline, even if it means multiplying the shots in the half-volley and imposing his desire, his rhythm in an attempt to catch the Ukrainian speed. 42 winning points, 19 out of 24 points won at the net allowed her to clinch her third victory against a Top 10 player (after that obtained against Belinda Bencic in February 2020 in the Fed Cup and the resounding back-to-back New York against Naomi Osaka and Elina Svitolina). Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka (world No. 2) awaits him in the semi-finals.