“That hurt me” – Leylah Fernandez bemoans broken ‘promises’ from Canadian Open as Citi DC Open euphoria swiftly turns to shock exit
Leylah Fernandez, the 22-year-old Canadian tennis star, expressed deep frustration after a surprising first-round exit at the 2025 National Bank Open in Montreal, attributing her 6-4, 6-1 loss to Australian teenager Maya Joint to unfulfilled scheduling promises from tournament organizers. Coming off a triumphant WTA 500 title at the Mubadala Citi DC Open in Washington, D.C., on July 27, 2025, where she dominated Anna Kalinskaya 6-1, 6-2 for her fourth career title, Fernandez arrived in Montreal with high expectations. However, the quick turnaround from her Sunday victory to a Monday morning arrival in Canada, followed by a daytime match on Tuesday, July 29, left her feeling betrayed. “I received a lot of promises from the scheduling about giving me maybe the night match, and I did not receive that. So that kind of hurt me because I was very looking forward to be playing at night, but you know, I guess it’s a little bit political issues at that point,” Fernandez said in a post-match press conference.
Fernandez, ranked world No. 24, highlighted the emotional toll of the defeat in front of her home crowd at Montreal’s IGA Stadium. “It felt great being on court, hearing the fans and feeling their support. It was awesome, and I mean awesome. I’m just disappointed with my level of play, and it wasn’t fair for them. I mean, it was a very, very low level,” she admitted. The scheduling decision, which Fernandez labeled as “political,” denied her the extra recovery time a night match would have provided after her grueling Washington campaign, where she defeated top players like Jessica Pegula and Elena Rybakina. The loss to Joint, who had fallen to Fernandez 6-3, 6-3 in Washington’s first round just days earlier, marked a stark contrast to her recent form, amplifying her frustration.
Tournament director Valérie Tétreault addressed Fernandez’s comments, explaining she fought for a night session but was overruled by WTA protocols, which mandate first-round matches conclude before second-round play begins to ensure fairness. “I didn’t win my fight,” Tétreault told local press, noting Fernandez’s late arrival in Montreal necessitated the latest possible first-round slot. Tennis Canada further clarified that WTA rules prioritized scheduling equity, a point echoed in their statement: “WTA protocols mean first-round matches need to be completed before second-round matches are played, ensuring fairness to all players.”
Despite the singles disappointment, Fernandez remains in the Canadian Open doubles draw, partnering with her sister Bianca Jolie against top seeds Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini on July 30. Her 2025 season, described by Fernandez as “pretty sh*t” before Washington due to early exits at the French Open and Wimbledon, had shown promise with her DC triumph. The Montreal setback, however, underscores the challenges of managing player fatigue and expectations, especially for a home favorite like Fernandez.
