“People underestimate her,” Chris Evert believes what Leylah Fernandez achieved at the US Open was ‘tougher’ than Emma Raducanu

“People underestimate her,” Chris Evert believes what Leylah Fernandez achieved at the US Open was ‘tougher’ than Emma Raducanu

Leylah Fernandez and Emma Raducanu

Canadian youngster Leylah Fernandez has been absolutely phenomenal so far at the French Open and is through to the quarterfinal courtesy of some solid wins over tough opponents. In the Round of 16, she defeated Amanda Anisimova in three sets 6-3,4-6,6-3 to reach her maiden quarterfinal at Roland Garros.

Fernandez introduced herself to the world last year at the US Open where she defeated 4 former World No.1s before losing to Emma Raducanu in a historic all-teen final. Despite Raducanu’s title victory, many believe that it was Fernandez who was the best player in the tournament.

Tennis legend Chris Evert spoke on Eurosport about Fernandez ahead of her quarterfinal encounter against Martina Trevisan. She said that she loved Fernandez’s fighting spirit and intensity. She added that the Canadian is someone who values every point and doesn’t make a lot of unforced errors.

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“I love her, I love her heart, her fight,” Evert said. “She’s just so intense out there. I just love the fact that she values every single point. She doesn’t get messy, she doesn’t make a lot of unforced errors.”

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‘She’s such a great player, especially on clay’: Chris Evert on Leylah Fernandez

Leylah Fernandez
Leylah Fernandez

Evert reminded everyone that even though she reached the US Open final, all the attention was on Raducanu but the reality is she defeated 3 of the top 5 players in the world en route to the final. She said that she did all of that with a much tougher draw and hence people underestimate her. She concluded by saying that Fernandez is a great clay-court player.

“Remember: she got to the US Open final, but all the attention went to Emma Raducanu. She is the one that beat three of the top five female players in the world to get there; she had a much tougher draw. People underestimate her. She’s little, she’s not that big so she can’t overpower you, but it’s the intangibles and the way she directs the ball… she’s such a great player, especially on clay,” she said.

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