Leylah Fernandez: "I am linked to that US Open final until I achieve another good result"

When no one expected it, not even herself, appeared Leylah Fernandez. The Canadian tennis player won her first WTA 500 in Washington in a week without expectations, where she lifted the champion's trophy after defeating the number one seed, Jessica Pegula, and the number three seed, Elena Rybakina. For the 22-year-old, it is a boost of self-esteem for this North American hardcourt swing that culminates at the US Open, the place where she made a name for herself and has yet to move on from.

Leylah was the big surprise at the US Open 2021 at 18 years old alongside eventual champion of the New York Grand Slam, Emma Raducanu. Both showcased themselves as the new era of women's tennis, but neither has been able to meet the expectations. And four years after that tournament, the Canadian spoke about the burden she still carries and also about her unforgettable week in Washington, in statements collected by WTA.

The work starts to bear fruit

"It's been a couple of very long years, with many ups and downs. Winning this title is fantastic, not only for confidence and self-esteem but also for the whole team and family. In recent years, we have been through many difficult moments. This trophy is a testament to how much they have fought. And it shows me that if they can overcome their difficulties, I can also do it in a small tennis match with a ball coming back to me. That is the goal and the mentality."

Arriving in Washington without expectations

"I had no idea it was going to be a good tournament for me. I just went thinking about enjoying the moment. I put in effort, dedicated many hours. The important thing was to get here and do what I had trained for. If there are things to improve, there are always things to improve, and it will be good preparation for Montreal and Cincinnati. It's a great stepping stone to reach Canada."

A week against challenging opponents

"It's very satisfying. I faced very tough opponents, from the first round to the final. Maya Joint is a tough rival and has had an incredible year. Playing against Jessica Pegula in Washington is never easy. She loves hard courts and has achieved very good results here. She wasn't going to hand me anything. Taylor Townsend was another battle, both physical and mental. I played doubles with her and we are good friends, so putting that aside was not easy. I had cramps and in the locker room, I said to her: 'You've killed me.' It wasn't an easy tournament from the start, so overcoming all those rivals and difficult challenges was great."

Hoping to maintain the positive momentum on this tour

"It certainly helps a bit. It gives us a good boost for more important tournaments. Playing against top players here in Washington, in a tough draw, has made me feel very good by winning my first 500. And I hope, I hope, to maintain that momentum in the upcoming tournaments, but also to keep my feet on the ground and not forget that every week there's a new opponent. That we have to start from scratch."

Still haunted by that 2021 US Open final

"It was mainly my own expectations. I played fantastic tennis in New York, many of my shots were landing. At some point, after 2021, I let my guard down a bit. To be honest, my coach, and father, Jorge, had warned me about it, but I was too naive at that time to believe him. To say: 'No, I have to keep working, I have to earn my place. It's not going to be easy from now on'. So after the US Open, it was hard to overcome that. And it's still difficult because I'm still tied to that result until I achieve another good result", assures Leylah Fernandez, who is gradually fighting to forget that feat and focus on a promising present.
 

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Leylah Fernández: "Estoy vinculada a esa final del US Open hasta que consiga otro buen resultado"