The tennis off season is in full swing and Leylah Fernandez has decided to “dive in with enthusiasm” and enjoy one of her off-court passions: karaoke.
Fernandez is the first person to admit that she is “absolutely terrible at singing”, but that didn’t stop the 21-year-old from sharing her exploits on the stage.
The 2021 US Open runner-up’s singing – or screaming if like – was so bad that at times it was difficult to actually make out what song she was attempting to sing, but the background music eventually gave the game away as it was Journey’s classic Don’t Stop Believin’.
Of course, the video was accompanied by a quirky, inspirational post on Instagram
“Just like in tennis, where every rally teaches us something new, life throws us opportunities to pick up new skills,” the Canadian wrote.
“I’m here to share a little secret: I’m absolutely terrible at singing, but that doesn’t stop me from belting out tunes in the shower, during car rides, or in front of my entire family during the holidays. 😬😂
“Life is too short to let fear of imperfection hold us back. Whether it’s hitting a high note or a topspin forehand, the key is to dive in with passion and enthusiasm. 🎾🎤 Sure, you might hit a few sour notes or miss a shot, but that’s part of the beautiful symphony of life. 🎼🌟
“It’s not about being the best; it’s about being your best and enjoying the journey. 🌟💃 What’s your off-court passion?”
She added: “Also I sincerely apologize if you had your volume on 🙃”
Fernandez has enjoyed a resurgence during the latter half of the 2023 season. Following her 2021 US Open heroics where she finished runner-up to Emma Raducanu in the final, the Canadian picked up a serious foot injury during last year’s French Open and she was forced to miss Wimbledon.
She struggled to regain her form on her return during the final few months of 2022 and also at the start of 2023.
However, she won the Hong Kong Open in October – her first title since March 2022 – while she also finished runner-up at the French Open women’s doubles alongside Taylor Townsend.
The rising star, though, notched up one of her greatest achievements at the beginning of November as she helped Canada to win the Billie Jean King Cup for the first time.