Canadian · Vancouver, Canada · Born 6 September 2002Canadian left-hander who became a breakout star with her run to the 2021 US Open final as an unseeded 19-year-old.
Leylah Annie Fernandez was born on 6 September 2002 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, to Jorge Fernandez, a former professional footballer of Ecuadorian descent who became a Canadian citizen at 14, and Irene Exevea, who is of Filipino descent. She is the middle of three sisters, and began playing tennis at five under her father's coaching, despite him having no formal tennis background. Fernandez was cut from Tennis Quebec's development program at age seven, but continued to progress through the ITF junior circuit, winning the 2019 French Open girls' singles title and reaching the world No. 1 junior ranking that year. She turned professional in 2019 and moved with her family to Florida at 12 to access better training facilities. Fernandez's breakthrough came at the 2021 US Open, where, as an unseeded 19-year-old, she defeated four consecutive top-tier opponents, including former champion Naomi Osaka, to reach the final — becoming just the fourth Canadian to reach a Grand Slam singles final. She won the Bobbie Rosenfeld Award as Canada's female athlete of the year that season. Fernandez captained Canada to its first-ever Billie Jean King Cup title in 2023, winning the decisive rubber in the final and earning the tournament's Heart Award. Fluent in French, English, and Spanish, she continues to compete on the WTA Tour as one of Canada's most prominent tennis exports.
2021 US Open teenage runner-up
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 singles finalist (2021)
- Billie Jean King Cup champion with Canada (2023)
Canadian Athletes