"Always said the biggest pride of any athlete is to represent their country": Leylah Fernandez sees importance in representing Canada at Billie Jean King Cup Finals
WTAThursday, 09 November 2023 at 01:30
Leylah
Fernandez leads the Canadian team in the Billie Jean King Cup Finals and talked
about the importance she places on representing her country.
Former US
Open finalist Leylah Fernandez had a strong end to the season, allowing her to
climb the WTA Ranking and start 2024 from a more comfortable position. The
21-year-old tennis player spent a significant part of the year outside the top
60 and often had to go through qualifiers to enter the main draw in some of the
most important tournaments.
Fernandez's
strong year-end finish, including reaching the quarterfinals of the WTA 1000
Guadalajara Open, making it to the semifinals at the Nanchang Open, and
capturing the title in Hong Kong, all within the last six weeks, has propelled
her to finish the year as the world No. 35.
Aware of
her good form, she is the main player for the Canadian Billie Jean King Cup
team this week, as they will not have the former US Open champion Bianca
Andreescu. Nonetheless, she expressed her excitement at being part of the team.
“I’m always
excited to be part of this Canada team,” Leylah said in the press conference.
“We have a great support staff and the girls here are super amazing. They
always bring out the best in me and I have a lot of pride when I play for my
country."
“My dad,
who is a football player, always said the biggest pride of any athlete is to
represent their country and to have the country’s name on their back. Every
time I step on court, I always just want to fight, be the best version of
myself and give Team Canada a chance to win,” she said.
The
Canadian team also includes former world No. 5 Eugenie Bouchard, Rebecca
Marino, Gabriela Dabrowski, and Marina Stakusic. They are in the same group as
Spain, led by Paula Badosa and Sara Sorribes Tormo, as well as the team from
Poland, which will not have the world No. 1 Iga Swiatek but features top
singles players Magda Linette and Magdalena Frech.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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