US Open finalist Leylah Fernandez hopes to increase fan interest in women's tennis

Following her exceptional run at the 2021 US Open, runner-up Leylah Fernandez hopes her astounding performance helped spike interest in women's tennis, which she believes is often overlooked.

After making an appearance at the Met Gala in New York City, Fernandez returned to her native Canada where she reflected on the past two weeks.

“Everything's coming in so fast that I'm so happy that all the hard work and all the sacrifices I've done over the years is paying off, and all of my dreams are coming true,” said Fernandez.

“I'm just going to enjoy the moment and I'm going to take this as a positive way, learn from my mistakes and learn from the experience.”

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After stunning defending champion Naomi Osaka in the third round, Fernandez would go on to topple World No.2 Aryna Sabalenka before eventually falling to Britain's Emma Raducanu in a highly-anticipated final. However, the 19-year old said she was proud of her achievements and hoped her journey would inspire other young female athletes.

“It feels amazing, you know -- not many people really watch female tennis, so I'm very glad that I was able to do something special on the court that inspires other people," she said, adding that she wants more fans "to watch our matches, not only mine, but also women's tennis because there's so many good players."