‘I was just enjoying every moment’ – teenage sensation Leylah Fernandez rolls on at US Open
Leylah Fernandez pulled off another incredible comeback to defeat former Major champion Angelique Kerber and progress to her first Grand Slam quarter-final.
The 19-year-old made the headlines when recovering from a set and a break down to defeat defending champion Naomi Osaka in round three. Fernandez repeated the feat against Kerber last night, fighting back from 4-6, 4-2 to win 4-6, 7-6, 6-2 infront of a packed crowd.
Fernandez revealed she has immense confidence in her game and isn’t surprised by the wins against Osaka and Kerber.
“I expected that one day my tennis game is going to come through and that I’m going to be on the big stage in front of a big crowd playing against big players and also getting the wins,” Fernandez said.
“I’m not surprised by anything that’s happening right now,” she added. “I’m just glad that it’s happening now and not later in the year, but we are just going to enjoy this time and take this one day at a time.”
Fernandez has shown incredible composure throughout this tournament and connected with the American crowd with displays full of emotion and quality.
“The match was incredible. I was playing well in the first set. Unfortunately I did a few mistakes,” Fernandez said. “Her, as a great player, great champion, she noticed and she took advantage of it. In the third, I was just enjoying every moment of it.”
“Having fun on the court, I think that’s the key to anybody’s success, especially mine,” Fernandez added. “If I’m not happy or I’m putting too much pressure on myself, I start making mistakes and I’m not enjoying myself.”
“But these past few weeks I have been enjoying myself a lot on the tennis court, and that’s been a mindset of mine from the very beginning that not only my dad but also my mom has been telling me to do so that I can enjoy this life.”
Fernandez will face fifth seed Ukranian Elina Svitolina in her first ever Major quarter-final.
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