"Never forget about what I can do with my talent": Leylah Fernandez optimistic about having good US Open outing

Canada’s young tennis star Leylah Fernandez is optimistic about having a good show at the US Open 2024. The fourth and the final Grand Slam of the year will begin from August 26 where players from all over the world will participate to showcase their talent and secure the ultimate prize.

Fernandez spoke to the Tennis Channel ahead of the mega-event about her preparations and how she is feeling about them. The 21-year-old went on to express optimism about improving her performance in the US Open 2024.

“We’ve been working a lot on self-belief and self-confidence in the past few years, and to not just be confident when you’re winning but also to be confident when things are going bad,” she said. “I’m happy that I have the right team around me to remind me that there’s so much more that I can do, and there’s so many things that I have done already so far. And just to keep working, keep chipping away, and to never forget about what I can do with my talent and with my tennis and mentality.”

Fernandez has an impressive record while playing in the competition. It remains the only mega-event where she has played in the final. That appearance came three years back in 2021 when she was defeated by Britain’s Emma Raducanu in straight sets with a score of 6-4, 6-3. However, ever since making that appearance in the final of the US Open, Fernandez has not played in the semifinal of any Grand Slam. Last year, in New York, she was knocked out after losing in the first round to Ekaterina Alexandrova with a score of 7-6, 5-7, 6-4. This year, she will begin her campaign with a match against Russia’s Anastasia Potapova. It will be the first-ever meeting between the two at the highest level.