Leylah Fernández, a Canadian tennis player currently ranked 24th in the world, has arrived in Paris for her second Olympic Games. With an Ecuadorian father and a mother from the Philippines, Leylah expressed her pride in representing Canada, sharing her enthusiasm for soccer and her admiration for Spain’s play during the recent Eurocup.
Leylah’s father, Jorge Fernández, who is also her coach, is a former soccer player. From a young age, he developed a training regimen that blended tennis with soccer, ice hockey, and boxing. He emphasized the importance of footwork, speed, and mental strength during her training sessions.
“My dad would show me Wayne Gretzky’s games,” she recounted. “I admired not only how he controlled the puck but also his intelligence and dedication to the sport. I spent hours glued to the TV watching hockey matches.”
Gretzky wasn’t Leylah’s only inspiration. She also looked up to other athletes, such as boxer Floyd Mayweather, praising his quick thinking and defensive skills that allowed him to counterattack effectively. In soccer, she admires players who possess remarkable footwork and control over the ball, noting, “The way they move their feet is impressive.”
Leylah has a particular fondness for the Spanish national soccer team’s style of play during the recent Eurocup. “The match against England was thrilling—I loved every minute of it,” she exclaimed. “The way Spain played, defended, and concluded that game was incredible. I thought I was going to have a heart attack from excitement.”
At just 21 years old, Leylah, who reached a career-high ranking of 13th globally in 2022, has her current favorites in the sports world as well. “Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams are amazing. They played outstanding games and an incredible tournament. Their performance motivates me to keep working hard and pushing towards my dreams,” she said with a smile.
In tennis, her role models include legends like Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Justine Henin, whom she referred to as a “female Federer.” “I admire how she was able to outmaneuver stronger, faster opponents with her strategy. I aim to use that to my advantage so I can also dominate against taller, more powerful players,” she explained.
Leylah cherishes her role as a role model, especially for young children. She fondly recalls when she attended the Canadian Open in her hometown of Montreal, waiting for the chance to get autographs from her idols, including Nadal. “It’s an honor to be a role model for both girls and boys,” she said. She has also established the Leylah Annie & Family Foundation, which provides scholarships and support for families in need of assistance with their children’s athletic and educational development.
“I want to inspire kids not to give up on their dreams. When I think about what they want to see, I believe it’s an athlete who is happy, smiles, works hard, and fights for every point. An athlete who makes them believe their dreams are possible,” she said.
Earlier in July, Leylah competed at Wimbledon. As she prepares for the upcoming Olympics, she is also gearing up for the Canadian Open and the US Open. “These next few weeks will be intense. We’re transitioning from clay to grass, then back to clay, and finally we’ll have to switch to hard courts. Right now, I’m training hard physically,” she mentioned.
“I love representing Canada in every international competition, like the Olympics and the Billie Jean King Cup. It’s a great honor,” she concluded.
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