© Getty Photographs Sport – Orlando Ramirez
Leylah Fernandez admits it’s “arduous” for her to take pleasure in watching ladies’s tennis since she is them as her “competitors” however reveals it is a completely different factor on the subject of males’s tennis.
Fernandez, 21, has been across the WTA Tour for a few years now and she or he burst onto the scene early when she made the US Open ultimate as an 18-year-old teenager in 2021. Since then, Fernandez has gone via some tough and difficult durations however she has nonetheless managed to win two WTA titles and nothing has modified in her objective of changing into among the best within the recreation and doing massive issues.
At this week’s WTA 500 event in San Diego, Fernandez – now ranked at No. 32 on the earth – acknowledged she watches ladies’s tennis however admitted it often occurs so she may analyze different gamers and use it to her benefit.
“I do not know. It is slightly arduous as a result of I am watching tennis with form of like a competitor’s eye, so probably not a lot as a fan. So, typically once I watch tennis, I am watching it to research every participant’s recreation, my recreation, to see what I can do in opposition to them so it is slightly arduous proper now to say which participant will get me excited to maintain watching,” Fernandez mentioned when requested to call favourite gamers on the ATP and WTA Excursions.
Fernandez likes watching Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz
In the case of watching males’s tennis, former world No. 13 Fernandez admits she will most likely try this as a fan and revel in it slightly bit extra since she will not be going through any of these gamers. After explaining that half, the 21-year-old Canadian talked about Djokovic, Alcaraz and Andy Murray as male gamers she enjoys watching.
“However on the lads’s facet, that is slightly bit simpler as a result of I am not going to be enjoying in opposition to them. It is at all times thrilling to observe Alcaraz play, how he brings the depth, the variation he provides his opponents,” Fernandez mentioned.
“After which additionally Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray. Andy Murray has gone via a lot the final couple of years and the way in which that he simply retains preventing and discovering a method, prefer it’s at all times entertaining to see what he does subsequent.”
Additionally, Fernandez talked about Alexander Bublik, who she described as “a spotlight reel” and somebody who at all times “does one thing loopy” on the court docket.
Fernandez retired in her San Diego opener
In the meantime, Fernandez performed her opening match at a WTA 500 event in San Diego on Tuesday, Fernandez, seeded at No. 8, received the primary set 7-6 (7)in opposition to Tatjana Maria however was 0-4 down within the second set when she retired from the match attributable to an damage.
When the match began, Fernandez broke Maria within the very first recreation of the match earlier than saving two consecutive break factors within the following recreation to open a 2-0 lead. Already up by a break, Fernandez earned her second break within the third recreation and once more saved two consecutive recreation factors within the fourth recreation to go 4-up.
Down by two breaks, it appeared like the primary set was misplaced for Maria. However then Forty seventh-ranked Maria served out the fifth recreation to get on the board and acquired one break again within the sixth recreation. After getting one break again, Maria additionally managed to get the second break again within the tenth recreation – the sport wherein Fernandez was serving for the primary set.
After impressively managing to get again into the primary set, Maria additionally opened a 3-0 lead within the tie-break. Nevertheless, Fernandez responded, successful six of the subsequent eight factors to take a 6-5 lead and earn the primary set level. Maria saved that set level – then additionally received the subsequent level to go 7-6 up and clinch her first set level – earlier than Fernandez received the subsequent three factors to a really tight first set with a 9-7 scoreline within the first-set tie-break.
After successful the primary set, Fernandez missed out on two consecutive recreation factors within the first recreation of the second set as Maria claimed an early break. Two video games later, Fernandez acquired damaged once more as Maria took a 3-0 lead earlier than routinely serving out the fourth recreation to go 4-0 up within the second set. Down by a double break within the second set and combating one thing, Fernandez retired from the match.
For Fernandez, the primary factor now’s to get better from the problem that compelled her to retire in opposition to Maria and have the ability to compete at a WTA 1000 event in Indian Wells, which begins on March sixth.
