The vibrant energy of Montreal’s IGA Stadium turned to heartache on July 29, 2025, as Canada’s tennis star Leylah Fernandez faced a crushing first-round defeat at the National Bank Open, falling 6-4, 6-1 to Australia’s Maya Joint in a swift 75 minutes. The 22-year-old from Laval, Quebec, who had just clinched her fourth WTA title at the Citi DC Open in Washington, D.C., two days prior, was visibly shattered, tears lingering long after the match. In a candid and emotional press conference, Fernandez unleashed her frustration at tournament organizers, accusing them of breaking promises about her match scheduling that left her physically drained and emotionally wounded. “I received a lot of promises from scheduling about giving me the night match. I did not receive that,” she said, her voice tinged with disappointment. “That hurt me because I was very looking forward to be playing at night, but I guess it’s a little bit political issues at that point.”
Fernandez’s journey to her hometown tournament was a grueling test of endurance. After dominating in Washington, where she defeated top players like Jessica Pegula, Elena Rybakina, and Anna Kalinskaya to secure a 6-1, 6-2 final victory, she arrived in Montreal at 2 a.m. on Monday, managing only three or four hours of sleep before attending an 8 a.m. event for her Leylah Annie & Family Foundation. The fatigue was evident on court, where her trademark agility and precision faltered, with six break points conceded and just 49% of first-serve points won. “It felt great being on court, hearing the fans and feeling their support. I was just disappointed with my level of play, and it wasn’t fair for them,” Fernandez admitted, her gratitude for the “awesome” crowd clashing with her self-criticism. Joint, a 19-year-old ranked No. 45, capitalized with maturity, avenging her Washington loss to Fernandez with a commanding 62-point performance.
The scheduling controversy fueled Fernandez’s ire. She had been assured a Tuesday night session slot to maximize recovery time, but learned while traveling on Sunday that she’d play no earlier than 12:30 p.m., a decision she attributed to “political issues.” Valérie Tétreault, the tournament director, acknowledged pushing for Fernandez’s preferred slot but was overruled by WTA protocols, which prioritize completing first-round matches before second-round play to ensure fairness. “I promised Fernandez I would fight so that she could have the time she wanted. But I didn’t win my fight,” Tétreault said, noting that Fernandez’s match was among the last three first-rounders delayed until Tuesday. Tennis Canada echoed this, stating that the WTA placed Fernandez in “the latest possible first-round slot” due to her late arrival.
The emotional toll was palpable. Fernandez, the 2021 US Open finalist and Canada’s top-ranked player at No. 24, spoke of the lost opportunity for recovery: “Maybe I win the match, maybe I don’t, but of course it helps the two to three hours where I could sleep a little more.” Fans shared her disappointment. “It’s harder to win at home. There’s so much more pressure,” said Montreal spectator Artur Puscasu, while Lucille Whistle, a longtime supporter, added, “She had a great tournament before and probably she’s tired. She had a lot to digest.” The defeat marked a tough day for Canadian women, with Rebecca Marino losing 6-1, 6-2 to Emma Navarro and Bianca Andreescu withdrawing due to an ankle injury sustained in her first-round win.
Despite the setback, Fernandez’s resolve remains strong. She returned to IGA Stadium on Wednesday for doubles with her sister Bianca, facing top seeds Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini in a wildcard entry. The National Bank Open’s new 12-day, 96-player format, aligning with WTA 1000 prestige, highlighted scheduling complexities, especially with the Washington WTA 500 final overlapping. Tétreault admitted the calendar needs reevaluation: “The 1000-level tournaments are supposed to be prioritized over a WTA 500, so we’ll have to go back to the drawing table.” Fernandez’s scathing remarks reflect her passion for her craft and her hometown, where the crowd’s energy, amplified by an enthusiastic emcee, left a lasting impression. “That kind of warmed my heart,” she said, vowing to channel that support into her ongoing journey, with the US Open on the horizon.
The vibrant energy of Montreal’s IGA Stadium turned to heartache on July 29, 2025, as Canada’s tennis star Leylah Fernandez faced a crushing first-round defeat at the National Bank Open, falling 6-4, 6-1 to Australia’s Maya Joint in a swift 75 minutes. The 22-year-old from Laval, Quebec, who had just clinched her fourth WTA title at the Citi DC Open in Washington, D.C., two days prior, was visibly shattered, tears lingering long after the match. In a candid and emotional press conference, Fernandez unleashed her frustration at tournament organizers, accusing them of breaking promises about her match scheduling that left her physically drained and emotionally wounded. “I received a lot of promises from scheduling about giving me the night match. I did not receive that,” she said, her voice tinged with disappointment. “That hurt me because I was very looking forward to be playing at night, but I guess it’s a little bit political issues at that point.”
Fernandez’s journey to her hometown tournament was a grueling test of endurance. After dominating in Washington, where she defeated top players like Jessica Pegula, Elena Rybakina, and Anna Kalinskaya to secure a 6-1, 6-2 final victory, she arrived in Montreal at 2 a.m. on Monday, managing only three or four hours of sleep before attending an 8 a.m. event for her Leylah Annie & Family Foundation. The fatigue was evident on court, where her trademark agility and precision faltered, with six break points conceded and just 49% of first-serve points won. “It felt great being on court, hearing the fans and feeling their support. I was just disappointed with my level of play, and it wasn’t fair for them,” Fernandez admitted, her gratitude for the “awesome” crowd clashing with her self-criticism. Joint, a 19-year-old ranked No. 45, capitalized with maturity, avenging her Washington loss to Fernandez with a commanding 62-point performance.
The scheduling controversy fueled Fernandez’s ire. She had been assured a Tuesday night session slot to maximize recovery time, but learned while traveling on Sunday that she’d play no earlier than 12:30 p.m., a decision she attributed to “political issues.” Valérie Tétreault, the tournament director, acknowledged pushing for Fernandez’s preferred slot but was overruled by WTA protocols, which prioritize completing first-round matches before second-round play to ensure fairness. “I promised Fernandez I would fight so that she could have the time she wanted. But I didn’t win my fight,” Tétreault said, noting that Fernandez’s match was among the last three first-rounders delayed until Tuesday. Tennis Canada echoed this, stating that the WTA placed Fernandez in “the latest possible first-round slot” due to her late arrival.
The emotional toll was palpable. Fernandez, the 2021 US Open finalist and Canada’s top-ranked player at No. 24, spoke of the lost opportunity for recovery: “Maybe I win the match, maybe I don’t, but of course it helps the two to three hours where I could sleep a little more.” Fans shared her disappointment. “It’s harder to win at home. There’s so much more pressure,” said Montreal spectator Artur Puscasu, while Lucille Whistle, a longtime supporter, added, “She had a great tournament before and probably she’s tired. She had a lot to digest.” The defeat marked a tough day for Canadian women, with Rebecca Marino losing 6-1, 6-2 to Emma Navarro and Bianca Andreescu withdrawing due to an ankle injury sustained in her first-round win.
Despite the setback, Fernandez’s resolve remains strong. She returned to IGA Stadium on Wednesday for doubles with her sister Bianca, facing top seeds Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini in a wildcard entry. The National Bank Open’s new 12-day, 96-player format, aligning with WTA 1000 prestige, highlighted scheduling complexities, especially with the Washington WTA 500 final overlapping. Tétreault admitted the calendar needs reevaluation: “The 1000-level tournaments are supposed to be prioritized over a WTA 500, so we’ll have to go back to the drawing table.” Fernandez’s scathing remarks reflect her passion for her craft and her hometown, where the crowd’s energy, amplified by an enthusiastic emcee, left a lasting impression. “That kind of warmed my heart,” she said, vowing to channel that support into her ongoing journey, with the US Open on the horizon.
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