"Stop being dumb": Leylah Fernandez reveals hilarious game-changing advice from coaching staff during win against Elena Rybakina in Cincinnati Open

Canada’s young tennis star Leylah Fernandez has revealed that she received an interesting bit of advice from her coaching staff during her impressive win against Elena Rybakina in the Cincinnati Open. The 21-year-old, who was once regarded as the next big thing after playing in the final of the US Open in 2021 at the age of just 18, produced a brilliant show during the third round of the competition on Friday as she defeated the world number four in straight sets with a score of 6-1, 6-4.

Fernandez, while talking to the Tennis Channel after the match, revealed an interesting bit of advice she received during the contest from her coaching staff. The Montreal-born further went on to praise Rybakina, whom she defeated for the first time in her career in only the second meeting between the two, and highlighted how she managed to get the better of her opponent on the day.

“My coach and box were telling me ‘she’s probably a little bit taller than you. A little bit stronger than you. Stop being dumb and just put the ball in,'” she said. “Elena is such a great player. Such a tremendous talent. The way she’s able to time everything and hit the ball so quick, so fast, and so heavy too... it’s truly inspiring. I just tried to be patient as much as possible. Trying to put one more ball back in any which way.”

Fernandez is now set to face America’s Jessica Pegula in the quarterfinal of the mega-event on Saturday. The 30-year-old defeated fellow American Taylor Townsend in the round of 16 in straight sets with a score of 6-2, 6-3. It will be the only second meeting between the two players in professional tennis. In the only previous meeting, which was in the third round of the Miami Open earlier this year, it was Pegula who came out on top in straight sets with a score of 7-5, 6-4.