"Where my passion for tennis was first lit": Leylah Fernandez looks to rekindle tennis hunger with unorthodox Montreal preparation

Canada’s tennis star Leylah Fernandez has revealed reasons behind deciding to play in Montreal in preseason.

The 21-year-old will be looking to bounce back from her rather disappointing performances in the recently concluded 2023 season. Fernandez was recently quoted in a report where she highlighted why she decided to play in Montreal in preseason.

"Wanted to give a little insight into why I chose to come back to my hometown Montreal for preseason,” she said. “Coaching here isn’t just about the shots; it’s also about the memories etched in every shot. These are the very places where my passion for tennis was first lit.

"Coming back is like turning the pages and continuing over the journey that got me here. There’s a unique energy here that fuels my determination. Every workout, every run is a wink to deep roots. Looking forward to 2024.”

Fernandez played in all four major tournaments in 2023 but failed to qualify for the third round or beyond in any of the mega-events. However, in the doubles category, the Montreal-born played finished as the runner-up in the French Open where she along with her partner Taylor Townsend lost to the pair of Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-Wei and China’s Wang Xinyu with a score of 1–6, 7–6(7–5), 6–1.