"I need to improve my whole game to be World No.1" - Fernandez discloses ambitious future goals

Leylah Fernandez may have stunned the world with her spectacular runner-up performance at the US Open, but the Canadian believes she still has a lot to work on before she can truly compete with the elite.

The Canadian began the 2021 season ranked World No.88, but saw a significant rise in the rankings that saw her finish 24th in the world after winning her maiden WTA title in Monterrey and reaching the US Open final. However, the 19-year old still has lofty goals and believes she needs to get better at every aspect of her game if she were to win a Grand Slam and become World No.1.

"I have to improve my whole game," Fernandez told ESPN Sports Latin America. "Improve my forehand, my serve, my volley, everything by two or three percent to be among the [top] ten in the [world] ranking, among the [top] five, and one day at number one and win a Grand Slam.

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“I still can’t accept that [US Open] defeat, but I learned what I can teach the world and that I can play against the greats.”

When asked about her return to the Monterrey Open in 2022, Fernandez said “I am happy to play this tournament again, it is important to me. Mexico is like my second home, in Monterrey I won my first title.”

The World No.24 took a break from tennis after Indian Wells, but will be making her return at the Adelaide International I in January.