Leylah Fernandez, the 22-year-old Canadian tennis star, has been making headlines not just for her powerful forehand but for her bold leap into the world of romance. Fresh off her triumphant run at the 2025 Mubadala Citi DC Open, where she clinched her fourth WTA title, Fernandez arrived in her hometown of Montreal for the National Bank Open with a new goal: going on her very first date. In a viral video that sparked a frenzy among her 349,000 Instagram followers, she invited potential suitors to slide into her DMs, but not without a catch—her father, Jorge, would need to approve. Days later, as anticipation built for her Canadian Open campaign, Fernandez shared a lighthearted yet telling update, revealing what she considers a major “red flag” in potential partners, offering a glimpse into her personality off the court.
“I think the No. 1 red flag for me is… There’s a lot of slang in the message. For me, it’s not very… I don’t like to say proper, but it’s not easy to understand,” Fernandez said in a clip shared by Tennis Channel, her playful tone masking a genuine preference for clear communication. This revelation came just as she was sifting through over 100 messages that flooded her inbox after her initial call for suitors. The response was overwhelming, with Fernandez admitting, “There’ve been a lot of responses. I think the first day, there were maybe over 100 messages. I’ve got a lot of options.” Her candid approach to dating, bypassing apps in favor of direct messages, has drawn comparisons to fellow Canadian Eugenie Bouchard’s fan date after a Super Bowl bet, but Fernandez’s quest feels uniquely personal, rooted in her desire to experience a milestone she’s missed due to her demanding career.
Fernandez’s journey to this moment began with a conversation with her father and coach, Jorge, who asked point-blank if she’d ever been on a date. “My dad point-blank asked me if I’d gone on a date yet, and I told him I hadn’t,” she recalled during a press conference at the Citi DC Open. “I’ve never really had the time, and no one’s really asked me, which, I don’t know why!” Jorge, a former soccer player known for his intense coaching style, suggested she post a video inviting suitors to connect in Montreal, where she feels most at home. “He suggested I post a video on Instagram and have a date in Montreal where you feel at home and you feel comfortable,” she said, agreeing that any potential date meeting her dad first was “100% fair.” This condition, delivered with a cheeky “good luck with that” in her Instagram caption, has only added to the intrigue surrounding her search for a one-hour date during the tournament.
Despite her romantic aspirations, Fernandez’s focus in Montreal was tested by a grueling schedule. After her 6-1, 6-2 rout of Anna Kalinskaya in the Washington final, she arrived in Montreal in the early hours of Monday, only to face a first-round exit against Australia’s Maya Joint, 6-4, 6-1, in just 75 minutes. The loss, a rematch of her Citi DC Open win over Joint, highlighted the physical toll of her packed calendar. “I received a lot of promises that I would play during Tuesday’s night session, giving me more time to recover,” Fernandez said, her frustration evident. Yet, her dating plans remain undeterred. “Honestly, I told my date that 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 to hopefully schedule it before going to Cincy.”
Fernandez’s openness about her inexperience in dating resonates with many young athletes. “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 shared. “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.” Her vulnerability has endeared her to fans, who see her as more than the 2021 U.S. Open finalist who toppled Naomi Osaka and Aryna Sabalenka. With a career-high ranking of No. 13 and over $6.7 million in prize money, Fernandez is a tennis powerhouse, but her desire for a simple, meaningful connection reveals her grounded side.
As Fernandez navigates the National Bank Open, where she earned $12,770 despite her early exit, her off-court adventure continues to captivate. Her “red flag” comment underscores a preference for authenticity, a trait that defines her both as a player and a person. “It’s about getting to know each other, what his hobbies are and what he likes,” she said, emphasizing mutual interest over flashiness. With the Cincinnati Open looming and the U.S. Open on the horizon, Fernandez’s quest for love in Montreal may be delayed, but her charm and determination ensure it’s a story worth following. Whether she finds a match or not, Fernandez is proving that even a tennis star can embrace life’s new challenges with courage and a smile.
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