Tennis: Leylah Fernandez battles expectations and plummeting rank
The Laval native reached a career-high No. 13 within the WTA final yr, however checks in at No. 81 for this week’s Nationwide Financial institution Open in Montreal.
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What have you ever performed recently?
That’s the query that guidelines life on the skilled tennis circuit.
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Leylah Fernandez reached a career-high No. 13 within the WTA rankings final yr after she adopted a runner-up end on the 2021 US Open with a march to the quarter-finals of the 2022 French Open.
However the tour calls for repeat performances and, when Fernandez didn’t advance previous the second spherical in her subsequent look in New York and Paris, her rating plummeted. When she faces a qualifier within the first spherical of this week’s Nationwide Financial institution Open, the 20-year-old from Laval will test in at No. 81.
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“It’s disappointing that the outcomes haven’t been there, however I’m bettering every single day,” Fernandez stated Sunday. ¨My sport continues to be within the improvement stage.”
The drop within the rankings creates some logistical issues. Her rank is sweet sufficient to realize entry into the 4 Grand Slam tournaments that assure her at the very least $250,000 U.S. in prize cash. However a participant needs to be within the high 45 to realize direct entry into the WTA 1000 occasions just like the Nationwide Financial institution Open.
Fernandez was in that class after her US Open run, however her current rank discount meant she wanted a wild-card entry for Montreal, and he or she’ll must undergo to qualify at subsequent week’s WTA 1000 event in Cincinnati.
“Scheduling is a bit more troublesome when your rating goes down, however I’ll attempt to do my greatest till the tip of the yr, after which I’ll sit down with my coach and set targets for subsequent yr,” Fernandez stated.
She will take some encouragement from the phrases of Caroline Wozniacki, the previous WTA No. 1 who’s returning to motion this week after a three-year hiatus. She took time without work to present beginning to daughter Olivia and son James.
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“I believe it’s loads simpler going up within the rankings,” Wozniacki stated. “There aren’t any expectations and each time you win, it’s a bonus. If you get excessive within the rankings, there’s an expectation that you simply attain the quarter-finals, the semifinals, each week. The opposite gamers see you play, watch you on TV and study your sport.”
Fernandez hasn’t reached the quarter-finals of a WTA occasion since Auckland in January and he or she has a 17-15 report on the yr.
She has had extra success enjoying doubles. She paired with American Taylor Townsend in March and so they reached the ultimate in Miami and once more on the French Open. A video of Townsend consoling Fernandez after the loss in Paris went viral and Fernandez stated it was proof she hates to lose.
Townsend isn’t in Montreal, however Fernandez, who’s ranked No. 20 in doubles, plans to play right here along with her youthful sister Bianca. They gained a spherical finally yr’s Nationwide Financial institution Open in Toronto.
Qualifying play wrapped up Sunday on the Nationwide Tennis Centre at Jarry Park and important draw motion begins Monday at 11 a.m.
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