Leylah Fernandez, the 22-year-old Canadian tennis star, faced another early exit at the 2025 Cincinnati Open, marking her second consecutive first-round loss following a disappointing defeat at the National Bank Open in Montreal. The world No. 24, still riding the high of her fourth career WTA title in Washington, D.C., fell to Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro in a 6-4, 6-2 defeat on August 9, 2025. Despite the setback, Fernandez took to Instagram to share a reflective and optimistic post, showcasing her resilience and gratitude. “Even though the song changes, you gotta keep dancing,” she wrote, quoting her WTA colleague Yulia Putintseva, a mantra that captured her determination to push forward despite the heartbreak.
The Cincinnati Open, a key US Open tune-up held at the Lindner Family Tennis Center, saw Fernandez struggle to find her rhythm against the 23-year-old Bouzas Maneiro, ranked No. 60. The match, which lasted just over an hour, highlighted Fernandez’s challenges with consistency, as she managed only 52% of her first serves and converted just one of three break points. Bouzas Maneiro, fresh off a strong 2024 season, capitalized with precise groundstrokes and a 70% first-serve win rate, breaking Fernandez twice in the second set to seal the victory. “I’m just disappointed with my level of play,” Fernandez admitted in a post-match press conference, echoing her sentiments from Montreal, where she lost 6-4, 6-1 to Maya Joint. The back-to-back defeats stung, especially after her triumphant run in Washington, where she defeated top players like Jessica Pegula and Elena Rybakina to claim the WTA 500 title.
Fernandez’s Instagram post, a collage of action shots and warm-up moments from Cincinnati, radiated positivity despite the loss. “Grateful for the journey and the support,” she added alongside Putintseva’s quote, thanking fans and her team for their unwavering encouragement. The post, which garnered thousands of likes, included a nod to her mental state, as she had recently opened up about a family scare that tested her focus. “My family and I went through a bit of a scare,” she shared ahead of the tournament, revealing the emotional weight she carried into Cincinnati. Her ability to remain upbeat resonated with fans, who flooded the comments with messages of support, one writing, “Keep dancing, Leylah! You’ve got this!”
The Laval, Quebec native, known for her 2021 US Open final run, has had a rollercoaster 2025. Her season began with a quarterfinal appearance at the Auckland Open, followed by a third-round exit at the Australian Open to Caroline Garcia. A first-round loss at the French Open and a second-round defeat at Wimbledon to Laura Siegemund marked low points, but Fernandez rebounded with a title in Hong Kong and a doubles final at the 2023 French Open alongside Taylor Townsend. Her Washington triumph, where she cruised past Anna Kalinskaya 6-1, 6-2, boosted her confidence and ranking, but the quick turnaround to Montreal and Cincinnati exposed scheduling challenges. “I received a lot of promises from the scheduling about giving me maybe the night match, and I did not receive that,” she said after her Montreal loss, hinting at similar frustrations in Cincinnati, where her early match slot left little recovery time.
Fernandez’s journey reflects her multifaceted life off the court. A business student at Indiana University East through the WTA’s partnership program, she balances academics with her professional career. Her Leylah Annie & Family Foundation, dedicated to education and sports access, underscores her commitment to giving back. Sponsored by Lululemon and Babolat, Fernandez’s global appeal continues to grow, with her fluent English, French, and Spanish enhancing her connection with fans worldwide. As she prepares for the US Open, unseeded but dangerous, Fernandez’s Cincinnati loss is a bump in the road rather than a derailment. Her Instagram message, echoing Putintseva’s wisdom, signals a mindset ready to tackle Flushing Meadows, where she once captivated the world as a 19-year-old finalist.
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