Leylah Fernandez, the 22-year-old Canadian tennis sensation and 2021 US Open finalist, has set the internet ablaze with a bold and unconventional approach to finding love. Just days before her triumphant run at the 2025 Mubadala Citi DC Open, where she clinched her first WTA 500 title, Fernandez took to Instagram with a surprising announcement: she’s ready to go on her first-ever date during the National Bank Open in her hometown of Montreal. The move, sparked by a candid conversation with her father and coach, Jorge Fernandez, has drawn an overwhelming response, with over 100 messages flooding her DMs on the first day alone. “There’ve been a lot of responses,” Fernandez exclaimed after her first-round victory in Washington. “I think the first day, there were maybe over 100 messages. I’ve got a lot of options.”
The viral video, posted on July 18, 2025, saw Fernandez, ranked No. 24 in the world, invite her 349,000 Instagram followers to “shoot their shot” by messaging her directly, as she expressed her distrust in dating apps. “This will be fun, right? This isn’t a joke. I fully intend to go on a date in Montreal, so go ahead and DM me… PS: you may have to meet my dad beforehand (good luck with that),” she said with a playful grin. The condition of meeting her father, a former professional footballer known for his intimidating presence, added a humorous twist to the offer. “My dad doesn’t look that welcoming,” Fernandez admitted, laughing, “but he’s very welcoming. Don’t get me wrong.” Her lighthearted approach resonated with fans, turning her quest for a one-hour date into a global talking point.
Fernandez’s openness about her lack of dating experience struck a chord, particularly among fellow athletes. “I’ve never been on one date before, so I just want to experience how it goes,” she shared, emphasizing her desire for a simple conversation to explore mutual interests. “I’m a tennis player, but that’s not all I am. It’s just about having a little conversation and seeing if there’s a mutual interest.” Messages of support poured in from peers, including Olympians she competed alongside, who related to her busy lifestyle. “I got responses from other athletes, including ones I went to the Olympics with, and they told me, ‘I know how you feel,’ or, ‘When I was 22, I hadn’t gone on a date yet, either,’” she revealed. “At this age, we’re all either studying or going to sports competitions, so reading those messages makes me feel better and like I’m not the odd one out.”
The timing of Fernandez’s announcement coincided with a pivotal moment in her career. After a challenging start to 2025, with early exits at the French Open and Wimbledon, she found her rhythm in Washington, defeating top seed Jessica Pegula and dominating Anna Kalinskaya 6-1, 6-2 in the final. “It gives us some good momentum going into bigger tournaments,” Fernandez said of her DC Open title, hopeful it would propel her at the Canadian Open, a WTA 1000 event running from July 27 to August 7. However, her Montreal campaign ended abruptly with a first-round loss to Maya Joint, prompting her to reschedule her anticipated date. “I told my date we might have to push it back a little bit because I’m still in DC,” she told Tennis Channel, adding, “Hopefully, maybe at the end of Montreal, I get to have that date finally, but we’ve been talking and keeping in touch.”
Fernandez’s dating quest, reminiscent of Eugenie Bouchard’s fan date after a Super Bowl bet, has drawn parallels for its fan engagement and authenticity. Despite her $6.5 million in earnings last year, making her the 18th highest-paid female athlete, Fernandez remains grounded, balancing online university classes and her love for salsa dancing and chocolate lava cake. Her father’s suggestion to post the video stemmed from a desire to see her embrace life beyond tennis, though he insisted on vetting any suitors. As Fernandez prepares for the Cincinnati Open, her viral dating saga continues to captivate, blending her on-court tenacity with an endearing off-court vulnerability that has fans rooting for both her tennis and her heart.
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