PARIS | Winning a major title, whether in singles or doubles, remains a dream for Leylah Annie Fernandez. And she will have the chance to do it on Sunday in the women’s doubles final at Roland-Garros.
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“All players dream of playing and winning a Grand Slam, of bringing the trophy home,” Fernandez said at a press conference on Friday, after winning, alongside American Taylor Townsend, the semi-final. final against second seeds Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula of the United States.
“I said to Leylah after the match: ‘That’s exactly what we’ve been setting up and building for a few months,'” Townsend said. […] We lost to Coco and Jessica in Miami [en finale]. We learned lessons and we managed to stay focused [vendredi].”
“But the job is not finished. We have one game left. However, this victory has motivated me even more, and I’m sure it’s the same for Leylah.
Contagious smile
It is a joyful and joking Leylah with her partner who appeared in front of the media. Quite a difference from the one who cried at the end of her defeat in the second round in singles.
Just like Townsend, who bowed out from the start in solo after managing to qualify, Leylah quickly found a smile.
It must be said that the relationship that the two girls have developed has a lot to do with it. They’ve only been teaming up for a few months, but they reached the final in Miami in April, then the quarter-finals on clay in Charleston and the semi-finals in Madrid.
“The most important thing is to have chemistry off the court,” Fernandez said. I don’t think we ever spoke before Indian Wells [en mars].”
“Actually, I didn’t know her before!” Townsend confirmed.
“Your game is crap!”
Their bond has therefore quickly evolved, trust has been established and honesty is at the rendezvous.
“When Taylor sees that I’m playing badly, she’s not afraid to say to me, ‘Okay, your game sucks!'” says Leylah.
The duo complement each other well. Between Townsend’s outgoing personality, who celebrates while dancing and is not afraid of his opinions, and the shyness of Fernandez, there is a perfect balance.
“I think it’s perfect for me,” said the 20-year-old Quebecer. I see the confidence she has in her, and it helps me in crucial moments. For example, today [vendredi], my serving games were very tight. She said to me: “Come on, you’ll get there, focus on the next serve, on the next point”. So I completely erased from my memory all past mistakes, which is also good in singles.
Eyes on a first major
On Sunday, the Canadian-American pair will try to win a first Grand Slam title among seniors. Fernandez was a 2021 U.S. Open runner-up, while Townsend made the women’s doubles final last year in New York.
As a junior, Leylah won Roland-Garros in 2019 and the 27-year-old American triumphed at the Australian Open in 2012.
The world’s 49th singles player can also save Canada’s honor, as Bianca Andreescu lost in the mixed doubles final on Thursday. Ontarian Robert Shaw will also be in the ultimate wheelchair quad doubles match on Saturday.
With his father
In addition to her trainer Julian Alonso, Leylah can count on the presence of her relatives on the Philippe-Chatrier.
“My father [Jorge] came here with my sister [Bianca, après un tournoi de tennis au Portugal], so I’m very happy, because I haven’t seen him for a long time. It feels good to have my family with me,” said Fernandez.
▶ Sunday’s final will pit Leylah Annie Fernandez and Taylor Townsend against China’s Xinyu Wang and Taiwan’s Su-Wei Hsieh.