Tennis
Meet Leylah Fernandez: The Teenage Breakout Star of US Open
by privatebet.com - 2021/09/08
If you still haven’t heard of Leylah Fernandez, it’s time you’ve learned her name because she’s currently making waves at the US Open, and she’s showing no signs of stopping. The Canadian teen reached the semi-finals after defeating former champions Naomi Osaka and Angelique Kerber, but what exactly is her secret? Fernandez currently ranks at no. 73 and she’s never even made it to the top 50 in the WTA Rankings, but that could change pretty soon. Her game at the Flushing Meadows is immaculate, but this isn’t the first Grand Slam tournament that she took a part in. Fernandez made her Grand Slam debut at the Australian Open in 2020, and appeared at this tournament again this year, before heading to Wimbledon and the US Open. Tennis lovers were blown away when she eliminated Osaka in the third round, and she eventually managed to enter the semi-final with a victory against Elina Svitolina, only a day after her 19th birthday. Fernandez’s enthusiasm, fearlessness, and attacking style were often pointed out as the reasons for her success, but she also credits the crowd for giving her the push in the right direction by cheering her on every step of the way. "Over the years I've been learning how to use the crowd's energy, how to use it to my advantage even though they're cheering against me, to use it… Coming to New York, one of my goals was to come out of my shell and be more outgoing and I have been improving every day and it shows on the court," explained Fernandez.