Canadian tennis star Leylah Fernandez blamed the lack of matches for her early exit at the National Bank Open in Toronto. On Wednesday, Fernandez exited Toronto in the second round following a 7-6 (4) 6-1 loss to Beatriz Haddad Maia.
Fernandez, who was the 13th-seeded player in the Toronto main draw, was playing her first tournament since the French Open. Playing her first tournament since returning from a Grade 3 stress fracture, Fernandez managed to beat Storm Sanders in the first round but couldn’t do the same against Haddad Maia in her following match.
“I would say yes because I didn’t get any matches. That’s the biggest difference,” Fernandez said, per Sportskeeda. “While other players are playing matches, I haven’t been. Nor practicing at the level that I want nor playing any matches.
So I think that that set me back a little bit.”
Leylah Fernandez set to return to the practice court
Fernandez is expected to return to action next week at a WTA 1000 event in Cincinnati. But before Fernandez kicks off her Cincinnati campaign, she plans to get some work done on the practice court.
“But now I know what I need to do. Now I know what we’re going to train to get back at the highest level as quickly as possible,” Fernandez added. “So I guess tomorrow we’re just going to get back to training.”
Fernandez maybe didn’t make a deep Toronto run but still it was a memorable week for her. This week, Fernandez and her 18-year-old sister Bianca clinched their first main level win together after beating Kirsten Flipkens and Sara Sorribes Tormo in the Toronto doubles first round.
“I think it’s more seeing how she progressed over the years. I was just so happy to be on court with her,” Fernandez said. “And this time on the same side of the net, not face-to-face playing against each other or practicing against each other.
But as in like I’m able to see how much difficulty she gives our opponents.” In the round-of-16, the Fernandez sisters were beaten in straight sets by Alexa Guarachi and Andreja Klepac.
