"I would imagine myself playing against Serena or Venus" says Leylah Fernandez on dreaming as a youngster

Leylah Fernandez is enjoying her official breakthrough on the tennis tour as the Canadian is through to the US Open semifinal.

The teenage phenom has been a mainstay on the tour for the entire year but it's only that she is enjoying a truly breakthrough performance. The writing on the walls has been there for quite some time but it's only now that it finally clicked. After he win over Svitolina, Fernandez admitted to dreaming about playing top players on major stages. She said:

“From a very young age, I’ve always wanted to be on the first court playing in front of my parents. Over the years I’ve been learning how to use the crowd’s energy, how to use it to my advantage even if they’re cheering against me, to use it and have fun on the court.”

Asked what were ideal opponents were during her early years she said that she always dreamed of playing the Williams sisters or Justine Henin:

“I’ve imagined myself playing in every tournament, every Grand Slam, at the biggest stage. When I was younger, since I used Justine Henin as a great example, I would imagine myself playing against her. I would also imagine myself playing against Serena and Venus [Williams], and the past few years playing against [Naomi] Osaka in a big tournament.”

Fernandez was a big chance now of reaching her maiden Grand Slam final at the mere age of 19. Her opponent will be Aryna Sabalenka and despite the Belarussian being a big favourite in this one, only those who did not watch the Canadian phenom play would say she has little or no chance.