“I was probably the slowest of the girls” – Leylah Fernandez reveals how her parents eased her childhood coach’s worries about her physical condition

Leylah Fernandez recently opened up about her early tennis days, revealing that she was “probably the slowest of the girls” during her childhood, which initially raised concerns among her coaches about her physical condition. Speaking in a post-match press conference at the Citi Open on July 26, 2025, the Canadian star reflected on her journey, noting that her lack of speed as a junior player led to worries from her coaches. However, her parents played a crucial role in easing those concerns, defending her determination and heart. Fernandez explained that when coaches expressed doubts about her physical abilities, her parents reassured them, saying, “Yeah, but if you put a tennis ball in front of her and ask her to run for every ball, she’s gonna do it. Her heart and her belief in herself is much bigger than most of the girls in that camp.”

This anecdote highlights how Fernandez’s tenacity compensated for her initial physical limitations, a trait that has propelled her to success, including her 2021 US Open final run and her recent Citi Open final berth after a 6-7(2), 7-6(3), 7-6(3) win over Elena Rybakina. Starting tennis at age five and competing at 10, she overcame early skepticism, with her parents’ support—particularly her father Jorge, a former soccer player from Ecuador—proving pivotal. Jorge emphasized her work ethic, a belief validated as she reached the Australian Open girls’ singles final at 16 and later won the French Open junior title in 2019. Now ranked No. 36, Fernandez’s story of turning perceived weakness into strength sets the stage for her final against Anna Kalinskaya on July 27, 2025, at 06:37 AM WAT.