Canadian · Vancouver, Canada · Born 6 September 2002Canada's fiery fan favourite who upset Osaka and Kvitová at the 2021 US Open as a 19-year-old.
Leylah Fernandez was born on 6 September 2002 in Montréal, Quebec, Canada, to a Filipino-Ecuadorian father and a Canadian-Filipina mother. She turned professional in 2019 and announced herself to the world at the 2021 US Open, where she defeated Naomi Osaka, Angelique Kerber, Elina Svitolina and Petra Kvitová to reach the final as a 19-year-old. She lost the final to Emma Raducanu but earned enormous praise for her fighting spirit. Fernandez is known for her aggressive baseline game, acrobatic movement and fierce competitive intensity.
Reaching the 2021 US Open final as a 19-year-old by defeating multiple former world number ones and Grand Slam champions.
At the 2021 US Open she beat four top-10 players — Osaka, Kerber, Svitolina, Kvitová — as a 19-year-old before losing the final to Raducanu.
Did You Know?How They Played
Fernandez is known for her aggressive baseline game and exceptional court coverage despite her relatively small stature. She possesses powerful groundstrokes from both wings and demonstrates remarkable mental toughness and fighting spirit in pressure situations. Her left-handed playing style and ability to redirect pace from opponents makes her a challenging opponent for top players.
Lasting Impact
Fernandez's fearless performances against established champions have inspired a new generation of young tennis players and demonstrated that age is no barrier to competing at the highest level.
Career Honours
- US Open Finalist 2021
Canadian Athletes