After producing back-to-back top-seed upsets at the US Open this year, young Canadian tennis sensation Leylah Fernandez had a tough luck in the finals as she lost to the in-form Emma Raducanu. But, the Canadian gathered scores of fans during her incredible run in New York where she defeated the likes of Naomi Osaka, Elina Svitolina, and Aryna Sabalenka.
Leylah Fernandez survives a three-set scare against Pavlyuchenkova at Indian Wells 2021
Post US Open, the Canadian decided to play the Indian Wells event. Fernandez is not just playing the singles event but also partnered with Coco Gauff to play the doubles. The duo has already reached the quarter-finals in doubles.
Coming to the singles draw, Fernandez had a straight sets victory over French player Alize Cornet in the second round. But, her third-round opponent was the French Open runner-up, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.
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It was not an easy matchup for Leylah but the Canadian showed immense grit in tense situations and got out of trouble with a courageous baseline game. Fernandez lost the first set and then bounced back in the next two to defeat the Russian, 5-7, 6-3, 6-4.
At Indian Wells, the youngster is enjoying the love and support showered by local fans as there were packed crowds for the matches she played so far. Also, her matchups with Gauff were equally enthralling as well.
When asked about how she deals with pressure on-court post her third round matchup, Fernandez reveals an affectionate memory of playing football with her dad on a park and mentioned going back to that moment will ease all the pressure.
Fernandez reveals a childhood moment that she thinks of while facing adversities on-court
“Every time that pressure is going up on court, I think back to that moment. It always brings a smile to my face, calms me down. Just want to be a little kid who want to be playing in a park once again. That just helps a lot”, said Fernandez.
Leylah Fernandez
: "Every time that pressure is going up on court, I think back to that moment (playing football with her dad), it always brings a smile to my face, calms me down. Just want to be a little kid who want to be playing in a park once again. That just helps a lot." pic.twitter.com/yTbkdR50ve
— Tennis Majors (@Tennis_Majors) October 11, 2021
Even in the US Open final against Raducanu, Fernandez was smiling despite the match not being in her favor and only got a bit emotional towards the end of that contest. From what the Canadian explained, it’s evident that this innocent memory from her childhood is what’s keeping her serene under pressure.
Coming to Leylah’s upcoming matchup, she will have to face the American Shelby Rogers for a place in her maiden WTA 1000 quarter-finals. The duo met once on tour last year at the Top Seed Open in Lexington, where Rogers defeated Fernandez in straight sets, 6-2, 7-5.
Even though Fernandez enters the match as a favorite, her defeat to the American last year and the fact that Shelby Rogers defeated Ash Barty at the US Open might make this match an enthralling one to witness.
The post “Brings a Smile to My Face”: Leylah Fernandez Reveals Childhood Memory With Father Helps Handle Adversities On-Court appeared first on EssentiallySports.
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