LONDON | Leylah Fernandez hoped that her second appearance at the All England Club would go better than her first, where she had, in her memory, spent “less than an hour on the pitch” two years ago.
The Quebecer can now say mission accomplished: she broke the curse of Wimbledon on Monday by reaching the second round for the very first time.
On this somewhat anonymous court 14, in the shadow of the prestigious central court and court 1, the 95e World Cup emerged victorious from a fierce battle against the Ukrainian Kateryna Baindl (85e), winning 6-4, 4-6 and 6-4.
But no matter the terrain, no matter that there were ‘ups and downs’ in this match, as well as sun, rain and wind, Leylah had a beautiful smile on her face when she met the journalists. The smile of a girl who had held on at the end to win, in this season when she had so much trouble signing important victories.
“It’s good to be back at Wimbledon. There’s so much history here, she said. I am happy to have passed the first round, to be able to stay here a little longer, to be able to continue to walk around the site where I feel this special atmosphere.
A 2h23 fight
Because if Wimbledon is the oldest of the major tournaments, the story between Fernandez and the All England Club is rather short. Last year, the Lavalloise was nursing a stress fracture in one foot and had to skip the third Grand Slam trick of the season.
And at her first appearance, in 2021, when she was only 18, Leylah lost 6-1, 6-2 to Latvian Jelena Ostapenko. It is this confrontation that Leylah evoked when she said that in her only participation in Wimbledon, she had spent less than an hour on the court.
Nothing to do, therefore, with his meeting on Monday. A relentless 2h23min fight against a player who is ahead of her by 10 places in the standings, and during which Leylah had to make up for a deficit of a break in the final set.
“It was very difficult because of the conditions [la pluie a interrompu le match en première manche]. She played very well, and there was also the wind, analyzed Fernandez. But I think I put the ball in play well in the important moments.
Leylah admits it: she was also nervous at the start of the match. This is the case for the majority of players, no matter where they play, but it is even more true in the mythical enclosure of the All England Club, “where we all want to win”, believes the young athlete.
A big test to come
This first victory is therefore done for the 20-year-old player, who will however have little time to celebrate this great moment.
From Wednesday, Leylah will face an opponent she has already encountered twice this season: the powerful French Caroline Garcia, fifth seed in London, who defeated the American Katie Volynets 6-4 and 6-3, in the first round. .
Garcia has beaten Fernandez twice this season, at Australian Open and Indian Wells. Two rather tight encounters, which gave him some leads. “I will have to be offensive. Attack, attack, attack,” she points out.
Attacking to hope to continue to advance in this big picture… and on the site of the All England Club which she adores.