Leylah Fernandez Blasts The Canadian Open Over Failed Scheduling Promises

Leylah Fernandez criticized the schedule at the National Bank Open after she faced an opening round exit in her home tournament, two days after winning the Washington Open.

Leylah Fernandez Blasts The Canadian Open Over Failed Scheduling Promises

Leylah Fernandez (image via Mubadala Citi DC Open)

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Leylah Fernandez recently clinched her fourth WTA title after defeating Anna Kalinskaya in straight sets at the Mubadala Citi DC Open. This marks her first title in nearly two years and also her first WTA 500 title. She had a remarkable run overcoming top seed Jessica Pegula in the round of 16, Taylor Townsend in the quarterfinal, and Elena Rybakina in the semifinal.

She also surged 12 spots in the WTA rankings to be the World No.24. However, the Canadian star’s campaign on home soil was short-lived as she faced an opening round exit at the National Bank Open. The 22-year-old lost to Maya Joint in straight sets in her opening round in Montreal.

This marked their second meeting on court, with Fernandez having previously defeated the Australian in her opening round in the Washington title run. Joint went on to lose in her next round in Montreal to McCartney Kessler in three sets. With tears welled up in her eyes, Fernandez spoke at the press conference about her disappointment with herself, in addition to opening up about some unfulfilled promises on the part of the organizers:

I received many promises about scheduling to perhaps give me the night match, and they didn’t fulfill them. That hurt a little because I really wanted to play at night, but I guess at that moment there were some political issues. Besides that, the audience was simply incredible. I heard the master of ceremonies cheering me on and encouraging the audience even more. That touched me. I had never had that kind of energy before, and it was an honor and a lot of fun.

The night session that day was instead given to top-seed Coco Gauff who played compatriot Danielle Collins. Gauff overcame 23 double-faults to win 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (2) to claim her first victory since the Roland Garros final. Gauff will meet Veronika Kudermetova in her next round in Montreal.

Gauff has a 2-1 head-to-head record over the Russian, with one win on clay and one on hard court. The winner of their upcoming match will either play wildcard Victoria Mboko or Marie Bouzkova. Of the other top 10 seeds, Jasmine Paolini faced a shocking opening round exit to Aoi Ito.

National Bank Open director responds to Leylah Fernandez’s comments

Valerie Tetreault, the National Bank Open tournament director in Montreal, responded that she promised Leylah Fernandez, the 2021 US Open runner-up that she would “fight so that she could have the time she wanted.” However, the scheduling decision was determined by the WTA. Tetreault remarked:

But I didn’t win my fight. I received the request for her to play in the evening. It’s my role to have conversations with the WTA, so I pushed as much as possible for her to have what she wanted…

Leylah Fernandez (via X/Citi Open)
Leylah Fernandez (via X/Citi Open)

Tetreault added that exceptions had already been made for Fernandez. She and Maya Joint were among the last three first-round matches held until Tuesday, despite Fernandez’s half of the bracket commencing play Sunday.

According to WTA protocols first-round matches need to be completed before second-round matches are played. Given Fernandez clinched the title in Washington D.C. on Sunday, the 22-year-old was not able to arrive in Montreal until the early hours of Monday morning. As a result, the WTA made the decision to schedule her opening round match in the latest possible first-round slot.

Leylah also played in the doubles event alongside her younger sister Bianca Jolie Fernandez. However, the sibling duo lost to Italy’s Jasmine Paolini and Sara Errani in the opening round of the tournament.

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