Leylah Fernandez, the 22-year-old Canadian tennis star, has set the tennis world abuzz with a surprising revelation about her personal life as she gears up for the Cincinnati Open. Fresh off a triumphant title run at the Citi DC Open in Washington, where she clinched her first WTA 500 title with a commanding 6-1, 6-2 victory over Anna Kalinskaya, Fernandez shared a heartwarming update about her first-ever foray into dating. This unexpected glimpse into her off-court life, sparked by a bold social media post, has added a new layer of intrigue to her journey as she prepares to compete on the North American hard-court swing.
Fernandez, ranked world No. 26, has long been known for her fierce competitiveness and captivating presence on the court. Her 2021 US Open final run, where she defeated top players like Naomi Osaka and Aryna Sabalenka as a teenager, cemented her as one of tennis’s brightest young talents. Yet, ahead of the Canadian Open in Montreal, she surprised fans with a candid Instagram video inviting potential suitors to “slide into her DMs” for a one-hour date in her hometown. “Hey guys, you know what I really want to do and I haven’t done? Is going on a date,” she said with a smile. “I am not a big fan of a dating app. So I am going to do it my way. I am going to go on one date, for one hour, in Montreal. If you want to be my date, send me a DM and tell me all about yourself.”
The response was overwhelming, with Fernandez receiving over 100 messages on the first day alone. “There’ve been a lot of responses,” she shared, laughing. “I’ve got a lot of options.” After carefully sifting through the messages with help from her family, including her father and coach, Jorge, and her younger sister, Bianca, she settled on one intriguing candidate. “His first message kind of caught my attention, and then afterwards I stalked him to make sure that he’s real,” she admitted with a chuckle. “He was a real person, seemed like a nice guy, and then got a couple of opinions from family, team members, to make sure they were okay with it too.” Her father’s protective streak added a humorous twist, as he insisted any suitor meet him first. “My dad point-blank asked me if I’d gone on a date yet, and I told him I hadn’t,” Fernandez recalled. “He suggested I post a video on Instagram and have a date in Montréal, where you feel at home and you feel comfortable. Of course, he was like, ‘But, he has to meet me first!’”
The early exit from the Canadian Open, where she fell 4-6, 1-6 to Maya Joint in the first round, unexpectedly provided Fernandez with time to pursue this romantic venture. She described the experience as delightful, noting, “I had a good time with the guy. He was funny, he is nice.” What made the encounter even more charming was that her chosen date hadn’t seen her viral video. “When I asked him, ‘Did you even see my video?’ And he’s like, ‘No, I didn’t,’” she said, laughing. The pair have since gone on a second date and are keeping in contact, with Fernandez hinting at the possibility of something more: “There’s been a second date, and we’re keeping in contact, so we’ll see.”
Despite the whirlwind of her newfound dating life, Fernandez remains focused on her tennis. Her Citi DC Open victory, where she defeated high-caliber players like Jessica Pegula and Elena Rybakina, marked her fourth career WTA singles title and her first since the 2023 Hong Kong Open. “I was just very happy that I got to not only push myself physically through the limits but also mentally,” she said after the win, emphasizing the confidence boost it provided. The Cincinnati Open, where she enters as the 21st seed and faces Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro in the second round, offers a chance to build on that momentum. A potential third-round clash with Taylor Townsend or Liudmila Samsonova looms, but Fernandez feels rejuvenated. “We have found balance, things are much better,” she shared, reflecting on a challenging year that included a health scare for her family.
Fernandez’s openness about her dating adventure, inspired by a lighthearted nudge from her father, has endeared her to fans and fellow players alike. Her younger sister, Bianca, even helped pick out the perfect outfit for the occasion, showcasing the tight-knit family dynamic that has supported her rise to stardom. As she balances romance and her relentless pursuit of tennis excellence, Fernandez’s story resonates as one of authenticity and relatability. With the US Open on the horizon, where she’ll face Anastasia Potapova in the first round, the Canadian star is poised to channel her newfound confidence—both on and off the court—into a deep run at one of tennis’s biggest stages.
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