We sometimes tend to forget it, and it’s good to remember it this week: Leylah Annie Fernandez is still only 20 years old. Time is his ally. “I’m still in a development phase,” the Quebecer herself noted on Sunday morning.
Fernandez doesn’t hide it: “the results are not there” right now. She recognized him a few months ago, and she recognized him again Sunday morning, during her first meeting with the Montreal media at Stade IGA.
The young athlete is not experiencing the same success as in 2021, when she reached the final of the United States Open. Until last week in Washington, where she reached the round of 16, she had yet to win more than two straight games this year. Once 13th in the world rankings, now she is 88th – there will be a new update on Monday.
But the classification, even if it has its advantages, “is not a priority”, she recalled in the calm and the delicacy which characterize her. In fact, it “never” is.
“My ranking went down, it’s really unfortunate, but I think my game has improved. […] At each training session, we work and try to improve as much as possible. »
Of course she’s “really looking forward” to earning more. Of course she would like to see “results now”. But life is such that she has to work on her patience and take it “one step at a time.”
“There are improvements I need to make to my game. I need to identify what the priorities are, what needs to be done in the short term and in the long term. At the end of the year, my coach and I will talk about it and we will see what the objectives are for the next season. »
Leylah Annie Fernandez arrives in Montreal after a good run in Washington, where she lost in the round of 16. The National Bank Open is always important for players in that it allows them to prepare for the United States Open, which will start at the end of August. Fernandez is no exception to the rule.
She also has a special training partner for her first match in the metropolis: her 19-year-old sister, Bianca Jolie Fernandez, who lost in her qualifying match on Friday.
“She’s the partner I wanted in practice today,” said the youngest of three siblings. I haven’t seen my sister for a long time, it’s been a long time since we played together. It will do me good to play with her, to see her improvements, but also to feel a different ball. She’s a very good player. »
“It will be a very difficult match,” she said. All the players here at the tournament are very good, regardless of whether they are qualified or in the main draw. The players here have earned their place. The qualifiers are a little more complicated because they had preparation matches, in quotes. »
When a colleague asked her what her goal for the week was, the Quebecer answered the obvious, saying with a smile that she “would like to win the tournament”. But his real motto, as cliché as it is, will be to experience this tournament “one match at a time”.
“I would like to play in front of a fairly full bleacher to feel the encouragement and have as much fun as possible at home,” she added.
The message is launched.
