A Canadian tennis player, Leylah Fernandez is 18-year-old and currently trains in Florida. She was born to an Ecuadorian father and a Filipino Canadian mother. Her first ever WTA Tour singles title was won at the 2021 Monterrey Open. She logged in her career-high singles ranking of world No 66 June 14, 2021, while the doubles ranking of 120 was achieved on 21 June 2021.

Fernandez won against Emma Navarro in the French Open girl’s singles final on June 8, 2019, becoming the first Canadian female winner of a junior Grand Slam title since Eugenie Bouchard at 2012 Wimbledon. She later went on to make her Grand Slam debut at the 2020 Australian Open, losing in the first round to Lauren Davis. 

As she is about to ring in her 19th birthday on Tuesday, she beat Naomi Osaka in the third round and Angelique Kerber in the fourth at the 2021 US Open. “I did have to pinch myself a little bit to see that it actually happened, but I knew that my tennis, my level of tennis is there.”

“It’s just a moment of time, opportunity, and I’m glad that I was able to get this opportunity now and that I was able to showcase what I can do in front of these players.” 

She added, “Well, tomorrow I’ll be focusing on the doubles match, but today I think we’re just going to have a nice little dinner with my team and my family here in New York.

“I’m glad that my older sister and her fiance and also my cousin was able to come and watch my match, so we are just going to go celebrate at a nice Italian restaurant we have been going to every night.” The 18-year-old credits her Dad – who coaches her – for all that she has learnt.