Tennis star Leylah Fernandez believes sports can be ultimate unifier, aims to grow game for women and girls

Leylah Fernandez has taken the tennis world by storm, having already gained two WTA titles at simply 19, however the Canadian celebrity is hoping to increase her attain and share the significance of sports activities and the importance it may possibly have particularly on ladies and younger ladies. 

Fernandez spoke to Fox Information Digital after her exit from the Indian Wells Open final week when she misplaced to Spain’s Paula Badosa, the match’s defending champion, within the spherical of 16. 

She spoke extremely of sports activities as a unifier, including that “the world can be taught by way of sport.” 

SPORTS FIGURES DONATE TO UKRAINIAN HUMANITARIAN CRISIS 

“It has opened up my eyes at how a lot we are able to develop and the way a lot we are able to be taught by way of sports activities,” the world’s No. 21 tennis participant advised Fox Information Digital. “The world can be taught by way of sport as a result of sport has all the time united the world in a approach I do not suppose some other exercise has achieved. So I feel by displaying the youthful technology that we are able to keep united by way of sports activities, will give them confidence in their very own future.”

Fernandez is hoping to attain spreading this message by way of a brand new partnership with Morgan Stanley the place she hopes to assist enhance entry and fairness for underrepresented communities within the sport of tennis. 

“Morgan Stanley has nice core values and I feel certainly one of them is similar to what my mother and father have taught me from the very starting which is giving again and I hope to have the ability to try this with Morgan Stanley,” she stated of the brand new multiyear partnership. “Attempt to give again to the group, to the underprivileged communities, to the youthful generations who wish to begin taking part in sports activities.”

She continued: “In my expertise sport has all the time given me a pleasant escape from what was taking place again residence or again in school. So it was an exquisite technique to not solely make buddies but in addition make good recollections.”

Fernandez will function a model ambassador for Morgan Stanley and can assist the agency’s giving again initiatives.
(Morgan Stanley)

Fernandez hopes to particularly attain younger ladies and ladies. 

“After I would watch TV, I might see the professionals play – simply how a lot they competed. So I feel by having the ability to develop the game and present the youthful technology, particularly women and girls, I feel [I could show them] that something is feasible,” she advised Fox Information Digital.  “I feel it could be very motivational for them [to show them] that they may do no matter they need, not essentially in sports activities however in different fields of their respective occupation and their respective ardour that they’ve they usually can go along with the mindset that they will obtain the identical factor that different persons are reaching.”

Fernandez is definitely a dwelling instance of the work she hopes to perform. 

She defeated top-seeded athletes like Naomi Osaka to succeed in the ladies’s closing on the U.S. Open in 2021 and got here again this 12 months to defend her title on the Monterrey Open after stunningly surviving 5 match factors within the championship sport. Her knack for staying alive in high-pressure moments has drawn Rafael Nadal comparisons however the younger star advised Fox Information Digital humbly: she nonetheless has a protracted technique to go. 

Leylah Fernandez of Canada celebrates with the champions trophy after successful the singles closing match as a part of the GNP Seguros WTA Monterrey Open 2022 Ultimate on March 6, 2022 in Monterrey, Mexico.  
(Photograph by Gonzalo Gonzalez/Jam Media/Getty Pictures)

“It’s an honor to be in comparison with Rafa – to Nadal – as a result of he’s a real champion. He’s a legend. He’s proven each time what it takes to get by way of to the end line on each spherical despite the fact that he’s a bit injured, despite the fact that he’s damage – he finds a technique to maintain taking part in and maintain preventing the identical approach he does. So it’s an honor to be in comparison with him however I don’t suppose that I’m on the similar degree and I nonetheless have lots to atone for so hopefully perhaps in the future after I get to his age I can say that I’m doing good however proper now I’m nonetheless within the studying, growth [stage].”

Having solely made her skilled debut in July 2019, Fernandez remains to be assured in her skills to compete with the perfect. 

“Enjoying a match towards a defending champion (Badosa), seeing the place my degree is at after taking part in so many matches in a row over the previous couple of weeks has advised me that my degree is up there and I can compete with these ladies.”

Leylah Annie Fernandez of Canada celebrates with the runner-up trophy after being defeated by Emma Raducanu of Nice Britain throughout their Ladies’s Singles closing match on Day 13 of the 2021 US Open on the USTA Billie Jean King Nationwide Tennis Heart on September 11, 2021 within the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York Metropolis. 
(Photograph by Elsa/Getty Pictures)Photograph by Elsa/Getty Pictures)

She advised Fox Information Digital that her capability to thrive in high-pressure conditions has lots to do along with her focus. 

“Each match I’m in, I wish to win them. That can by no means change,” she defined, earlier than including: “Have enjoyable on the courtroom, which that’s crucial philosophy that we have now proper now – simply to have enjoyable on the courtroom each time I get in and to benefit from the second as a result of this second won’t occur once more.”