Leylah Fernandez is a talented Canadian professional tennis player. She is best known for reaching a career-high singles ranking of world No. 13 on August 8, 2022, and attaining her best doubles ranking at No. 17 on October 23, 2023. Notably, she secured her maiden WTA Tour title at the 2021 Monterrey Open. At the age of 19, she made headlines by finishing as the runner-up at the 2021 US Open, losing to Emma Raducanu in the final after defeating three top-5 players, including the defending champion Naomi Osaka, on her journey. Leylah is coached by Julian Alonso and her father, Jorge Fernandez. Her win propelled Canada to the Billie Jean King Cup 2023 semis for the first time since 1988, alongside Italy in Seville. Fernandez, 21, defeated Magda Linette 6-2, 6-3, and Stakusic secured a comeback win over Magdalena Frech with a score of 4-6, 7-5, 6-3.
Parents and Ethnicity
Born on September 6, 2002, Leylah Fernandez hails from Montreal, Canada. Leylah Annie Fernandez is her birth name. She celebrated her 21st birthday in 2023. With Canadian-Filipino roots, she holds Canadian nationality and belongs to a mixed ethnicity. Leylah's parents are Jorge, a former soccer player from Ecuador, and Irene. In addition to her tennis prowess, she shares her sporting spirit with her younger sister Bianca Jolie, also a tennis player. Beyond the court, Leylah's older sister, Jodeci, pursues a career as a dentist. Leylah attended School Secondary Antoine De-St-Exupery for her primary education.
Tennis Career
- At 16 years old, on January 25, 2019, Leylah Fernandez reached the girls' singles final at the Australian Open but lost to top-seeded Clara Tauson.
- Later, on June 8, 2019, she made history by defeating Emma Navarro in the French Open final, becoming the first Canadian female to win a junior Grand Slam title since Eugenie Bouchard in 2012 at Wimbledon. This triumph also secured her the world No. 1 junior ranking.
- Leylah Fernandez, on 21st July 2019, marked her entry into the professional tennis scene by clinching her first singles title at the Gatineau Challenger, followed by her debut in doubles with Rebecca Marino.
- In 2020, after a Grand Slam debut at the Australian Open, she made headlines with a stunning victory against world No. 5 Belinda Bencic in the Billie Jean King Cup qualifying round.
- Fernandez continued to make waves, reaching her first WTA Tour career final at the Mexican Open and later upsetting Grand Slam champion Sloane Stephens at the Monterrey Open.
- Her breakthrough at the French Open included victories over seeded players. The year 2021 was pivotal for Fernandez as she secured her first WTA Tour title at the Monterrey Open.
- However, it was at the US Open where she captivated fans by defeating top-seeded players like Naomi Osaka, Angelique Kerber, and Elina Svitolina, reaching her maiden major final. Although she ultimately lost to Emma Raducanu in the final.
- She made her Indian Wells Open debut as the 23rd seed. She lost to Shelby Rogers.
- At the end of the year, she was honored with the Bobbie Rosenfeld Award by the Canadian Press, recognizing her as their selection for the title of Canadian Female Athlete of the Year in 2021.
- She started her 2022 season at the Adelaide International where she reached the round of 16 but was defeated by Iga Świątek in straight sets.
- Despite an early exit in the Australian Open, she bounced back in March to defend her Monterrey Open title, securing her second WTA title by overcoming Camila Osorio in a thrilling three-set final where she saved five championship points.
- She also demonstrated her prowess in doubles, reaching the semifinals at the Indian Wells Open with Alizé Cornet.
- Her journey at the French Open included notable victories over Olympic champion Belinda Bencic and 2019 French Open semifinalist Amanda Anisimova before exiting in the quarterfinals due to a foot injury. Unfortunately, the same injury forced her to miss Wimbledon.
- While facing challenges at the Canadian Open and Cincinnati Open, Fernandez entered the US Open as the 14th seed, achieving a victory in the opening round but succumbing to Liudmila Samsonova in the second round.
- Despite the loss of points from her previous year's final, Fernandez displayed versatility in doubles, reaching the second round with Daria Saville and the quarterfinals in mixed doubles with Jack Sock.
- In the early 2023 season, she reached the quarterfinals at the Auckland Open and progressed to the second round at the Australian Open, where she faced a tough battle against world No. 4 Caroline Garcia.
- Partnering with Taylor Townsend at the Miami Open, they reached the doubles final, elevating Fernandez to a career-high No. 36 in the doubles rankings.
- Despite a second-round loss at Wimbledon, Fernandez, along with Townsend, reached the quarterfinals in women's doubles.
- During the US Open swing, she had mixed results, including a quarterfinal appearance at Tennis in the Land and a first-round exit at the US Open.
- Post-US Open, Fernandez rebounded, reaching the quarterfinals in singles and doubles at the Guadalajara Open.
- In the Asian swing, she secured her first title since February 2022 at the Hong Kong Tennis Open, defeating top opponents reentering the top 50 in singles, and achieving a career-high No. 17 in doubles by October 23, 2023.
Salary & Endorsement Deals
Leylah Fernandez, the accomplished professional tennis player, has a substantial net worth estimated at $6 million in 2023, a figure that has rapidly escalated due to tournament prizes and lucrative endorsements. Currently earning an annual salary surpassing $400,000, her total prize money amounts to $4,304,863, primarily sourced from her successful tennis career.
Beyond the court, Fernandez secures significant income through sponsorships and brand deals, holding ambassadorial roles for Gatorade Canada and Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro in Canada. Endorsed by Nike and Babolat for clothing and equipment, she made history in January 2022 by becoming the first global brand ambassador in tennis for Lululemon. Embracing a luxurious lifestyle, Fernandez enjoys endorsements from premium vehicle brands such as Volvo, Toyota, Ferrari, and BMW, reflecting her status as a prominent figure in the tennis world.
Body Measurements
Leylah Fernandez stands at an ideal height of 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in) with a well-proportioned body weight of 48 kg. Displaying a pair of captivating dark brown eyes and complementing dark brown hair, she maintains a body measurement of 32-24-32 inches (breast-waist-hip). With an athletic body type, Leylah has a healthy body.
