“I still have a lot to show” Leylah Fernandez puts out an impressive performance to enter the quarter-finals in the 2022 French Open
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Leylah Fernandez
World No. 18 Leylah Fernandez fought a gritty Amanda Anisimova to reach the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam for the second time in her career. Anisimova, a former French Open semi-finalist, could not survive the challenge from Leylah as the Candian southpaw won the match 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 in 1 hour and 54 minutes to move into the last-8 of the 2022 French Open.
Fernandez did not have a good service game as she managed a solitary ace while making 4 double faults as compared to Amanda who had 3 aces and 1 double fault. Amanda also hit 40 winners to Leylah’s 35 but it was the Canadian’s discipline and clinical work that saw her advance as she made 17 unforced errors to Amanda’s 22 and while winning 6 of her breakpoints while Amanda could win only 4 breakpoints from the 12 she had.
“Of course, today it was a match that was very complicated. Amanda is a very good player, and I’m very happy to be able to beat her. Also, I’m very happy to play in front of Thierry Henry, and thank you for coming. Every year before winning juniors I dreamed of playing on Court Philippe-Chatrier in front of you, I am very happy to be here and hope to play on this court again.
“Honestly, without you, without the public, I think that I wouldn’t have been able to win today. The crowd encouraged me so thank you to all for coming out and supporting me. Of course, the crowd helped me a lot; I just had to accept the situation, stay positive, taking each point as it came, especially in the second and third sets, trying to find the solution,” said Leylah after her win.
Leylah Fernandez still believes she is the underdog
Leylah’s win takes her closer to the Top-10 as she had suffered a first-round exit in the 2021 French Open and with a run to the quarter-final she can see a good hike in her rankings. Despite this, the Canadian believes she is still not the favourite going into a match but is assured of having a big potential that she is yet to display.
“Every time I step out on the court I still have something to prove. I still have that mindset I’m the underdog. I’m still young, I still have a lot to show to the people, to the public so that they can just enjoy the tennis match. That’s ultimately my goal, and that’s why I want to do well in matches.
“I think it’s actually pretty amazing that [the media] came up with Clay-lah, because I have no creativity for that. I wouldn’t think of that nickname. But my family do use the nickname Leylannie, using my first and middle name, and they put it together, which I always like. I know that I’m doing things right or I’m being a good kid when they’re calling me Leylannie,” said Fernandez further.
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Sarthak Shitole
(3462 Articles Published)