‘Wow, thank you!’ – Leylah Fernandez gratefully receives national sporting award
After a breakthrough 2021 which peaked a US Open final appearance Leylah Fernandez has now been recognised with a prestigious award.
The 19-year-old Canadian stormed past three top 10 players and two multi-Slam champions in Angelique Kerber and Naomi Osaka to reach the championship match in New York.
Fernandez was then only stopped by fellow teenage phenomenon Emma Raducanu in that match, a stellar run nonetheless.
Now, Fernandez has been awarded the Bobbie Rosenfeld Award as the Canadian Press’ choice for female Canadian athlete of the year.
“Wow, thank you for all the support this year,” Fernandez tweeted in response to the news.
Recent winners of the award have included footballer and all-time international goal-scoring leader Christine Sinclair, as well as fellow Slam finalist Eugenie Bouchard and 2019 US Open champion Bianca Andreescu.
Wow ? Thank you for all the support this year. https://t.co/j7fP3N4jB2
— leylahfernandez (@leylahfernandez) December 28, 2021
Fernandez ended 2021 ranked at a career-high 24th on the WTA tour and will be hoping to build in 2022.
During the off-season, she shared an insight into her training alongside sister and fellow pro Bianca Fernandez, describing the experience as “amazing.”
Fernandez will return to court at the WTA 500 Adelaide International beginning 3rd January.
Come the Australian Open on 17th January, Fernandez can look to improve on her first round exits in 2020 and 2021, the first coming as a qualifier.
She will enjoy the benefit of being seeded at a Slam for the very first time when action gets underway in Melbourne.
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