Leylah Fernandez proud of sister Bianca's as they reach Canadian Open doubles semis: "My sister stepped up for us"
WTA
Leylah Fernandez expressed her pride in her
sister Bianca following a strong performance that led them to the
quarter-finals of the Canadian Open. The world No. 25 suffered a disappointing
loss in the Round of 16 to Ashlyn Krueger and exited the singles draw early,
leaving no local players in the singles draw.
The 2021 US Open runner-up shared her
frustration on social media after falling to Krueger (world No. 82), but
remains active in the doubles draw with her sister Bianca Fernandez. The pair
received a wildcard from the organisers and have now reached the semi-finals of
the tournament.
From singles defeat to doubles success
Like in 2022 and 2023, Leylah Fernandez entered
the Canadian Open as the local favourite but was unable to achieve a deep run.
She entered as the 15th seed, winning her first-round match against Nao Hibino
(No. 159) but was eliminated by Krueger in straight sets.
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Following her singles elimination, Leylah
played in the second round of doubles against Americans Catherine Harrison and
Krueger. Earlier, she and Bianca had defeated the 5th seeds, Demi Schuurs and
Luisa Stefani. "Yesterday’s singles loss felt horrible. I am very
disappointed with how I played and left the court angry at myself. I didn’t
know how I was going to put myself together and compete again in doubles,"
Leylah Fernandez wrote on Instagram.
The Fernandez sisters secured victory in a
third-set tie-break (6-3, 4-6, 11-9), with Leylah giving full credit to her
sister. "The truth is, my sister @biancajolietennis stepped it up for us.
Our dad and coach gave her the green light to take the lead, and she did. I am
so proud of her. That win was all her. Now we’re in the doubles quarters. Let’s
take that sour feeling and channel it into doubles. Let’s keep going."
Leylah Fernandez at 2024 Madrid Open.
After their win against the Americans, the
Fernandez sisters defeated Shuai Zhang and Kristina Mladenovic in another
third-set tie-break (7-5, 5-7, 12-10). This secured them a spot in the
semi-finals, where they will face New Zealand's Erin Routliffe and Canadian
Gabriela Dabrowski, a recent bronze medallist in mixed doubles.
Recently, Leylah thanked the organisers in a
press conference for granting them the wildcard that allowed them to play
together in doubles: "I want to thank the NBO and Tennis Canada for giving
my sister and I the opportunity to play together once again."
Currently, Bianca is 20 years old and ranked
world No. 1097 in singles and No. 911 in doubles. Despite this, her strong
partnership with Leylah has allowed her to climb over 700 positions and
guarantees her at least the world No. 191 in the doubles ranking.
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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