Leylah Fernandez, Canada’s 22-year-old tennis darling, arrived in Montreal for the 2025 National Bank Open riding a wave of triumph after clinching her fourth WTA title at the Mubadala Citi DC Open in Washington. But the homecoming turned sour as she suffered a shocking first-round defeat to Australia’s Maya Joint, 6-4, 6-1, in just 75 minutes on Tuesday, July 29, 2025. The loss, a stark contrast to her dominant performance against Joint in Washington just days earlier, left Fernandez visibly crushed, with tears lingering long after the match. In a fiery post-match press conference, she didn’t hold back, accusing the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) and tournament organizers of betraying “a lot of promises” about scheduling, calling the decision “political” and a factor in her lackluster performance before her hometown crowd.
“Oh, yeah, the short turnaround. I mean, we got promises — oh, man,” Fernandez said, her voice heavy with frustration. “I received a lot of promises from scheduling about giving me maybe the night match, and I did not receive that. So that kind of hurt me because I was very looking forward to be playing at night, but you know, I guess it’s a little bit political issues at that point.” The promise of a Tuesday night slot would have given Fernandez, ranked No. 24, precious extra hours to recover after her grueling Washington campaign, where she toppled top seeds like Jessica Pegula and Elena Rybakina. Instead, she learned on Sunday, while traveling from Washington, that her match was set for the early afternoon, starting not before 12:30 p.m. The tight turnaround—arriving in Montreal at 2 a.m. Monday after a Sunday final and sleeping just three hours before a foundation event at IGA Stadium—left her visibly fatigued, converting only 49% of her first-serve points and surrendering six break points to the 19-year-old Joint.
Fernandez’s disappointment was palpable, not just for her performance but for letting down the Montreal fans who roared with support. “It felt great being on court, hearing the fans and feeling their support. It was awesome, and I mean awesome,” she said, her voice softening. “I’m just disappointed with my level of play, and it wasn’t fair for them. I mean, it was a very, very low level.” The crowd’s energy, amplified by an emcee who rallied them further, warmed her heart despite the loss. “I never had that kind of energy before, and it was just an honor and a lot of fun, yeah,” she added, highlighting the bittersweet connection with her hometown.
Valerie Tetreault, the National Bank Open tournament director, acknowledged Fernandez’s plight, revealing she fought hard to secure the evening slot. “I promised Fernandez I would fight so that she could have the time she wanted,” Tetreault said. “But I didn’t win my fight.” She explained that the WTA, which controls scheduling, prioritized protocol requiring first-round matches to conclude before second-round play, ensuring fairness. “WTA protocols mean first-round matches need to be completed before second-round matches are played, ensuring fairness to all players,” Tennis Canada stated, noting that Fernandez’s match was already slotted as one of the final three first-rounders on Tuesday, despite her half of the bracket starting Sunday. The decision, while procedurally sound, stung Fernandez, who felt the WTA’s tone was dismissive when her father and coach, Jorge, was told with “a sarcastic tone” that two or three extra hours wouldn’t matter. “Yes, it would make a great difference,” Fernandez retorted. “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.”
The loss was part of a tough day for Canadian women, with Bianca Andreescu withdrawing due to an ankle injury and Rebecca Marino falling 6-1, 6-2 to Emma Navarro. Fernandez, however, isn’t done in Montreal, as she and her sister Bianca are set to face top-seeded Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini in doubles on Wednesday. Despite the singles setback, Fernandez’s Washington triumph—her first title since 2023—has boosted her confidence. “It’s been a long, long couple of years with a lot of ups and downs,” she said after Washington. “Getting this title is great not only for confidence and self-belief, but also for the whole team and family.” With the Cincinnati Open and U.S. Open looming, Fernandez’s fiery critique of the “political” scheduling underscores her determination to fight for fairness, both on and off the court, as she aims to carry her momentum forward.
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