OMNIUM BANQUE NATIONALE

August 11, 2023

Leylah Fernandez

Press Conference

D. COLLINS/L. Fernandez

6-2, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Hard luck tonight, Leylah. What made Danielle such a tricky opponent tonight?

LEYLAH FERNANDEZ: Yeah, Danielle played a great match. She didn't do many mistakes. I think she was definitely the one that was very offensive.

And when I tried to be offensive, I either in my opinion I think I overplayed or I made -- or I didn't do enough with the ball.

But she did a great match, solid one. Hopefully she goes all the way.

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English.

Q. This is a tough loss tonight obviously, but still a really great week for you. How do you feel about the whole experience?

LEYLAH FERNANDEZ: Yeah, it's definitely a tough loss. Never happy to lose in a home tournament or any tournament at that.

But I think I'm happy that I was able to get the experience of playing in front of a home crowd, full crowd also, and just enjoy my time here in the city with my family and my friends.

Then I get to kind of -- I wouldn't want to say relive memories, but I can see where I grew up, and I was able to remember some fun moments, sad moments, and just kind of enjoy my time here.

Q. Today was a rough timing-wise, weather-wise, condition-wise. How much more challenging did that make things for you when you finally did get on the court?

LEYLAH FERNANDEZ: It definitely was challenging. You know, I think because I actually sleep fairly early, so late-night matches, I love them, but I have to kind of change my sleep schedule.

So I just have to learn how to manage this. I'm going to talk with my team, see what I can do better.

This is a good learning experience, good way to see what I did well, what I'm feeling, and what we can do better. Either wake up later or have more naps, but I think it's great. It was a great experience for me to learn as an athlete and as a person.

Q. Two questions, Leylah: First, will you play in Cincinnati? Is everything okay? And sorry to ask you that, but do you have a cold?

LEYLAH FERNANDEZ: Oh, no, I don't have a cold. You know, it is cold outside, so I guess I'm feeling cold coming back in, but I think I'm feeling good.

Physically and mentally, emotionally I'm feeling great, and that's the most important thing. I'm actually very happy that I'm feeling fine.

Then for Cincinnati, that's the plan. That's the plan so far. We're going to see what are our travel plans for the next day because you have to get there as quickly as possible.

THE MODERATOR: Questions in French, please.

Q. I would like to know if the conditions on the court were maybe disturbing for you, like the wind? Were you bothered by that?

LEYLAH FERNANDEZ: No, the conditions were not difficult, but different from daytime. As I said in English, it's a good experience for me and a good opportunity to learn.

I did good things this week, and today unfortunately my game was not there, so it didn't help me.

I was talking with my coach and my team about what I can do better. Maybe a night match is different from a day match, so we need to see how I can practice to get used to it.

The temperature was different. It was not as hot and more wind also, so I need to know what I can do better. The conditions were not ideal, but my opponent had the same conditions, so it's no excuse for me.

The question is what I can do better in my game, what I can improve, and what I must do differently in my practice for me to do better in those kind of matches.

Q. Danielle said you didn't have the opportunity to warm up before the match. So did you feel you didn't have enough preparation?

LEYLAH FERNANDEZ: Well, those were the conditions we had, and this is what we need to learn how to manage.

There are many things we need to change. And as I said, we are going to talk with my team to see what we can change for me to improve and for me to be able to go into that kind of match knowing the conditions are different from a day match and how I can play better.

I am only 20. I have experience, but I still have a lot to learn. Danielle is a very good player. She's been playing for many years, and we could see that in the match today.

Q. Often when you were serving, you didn't throw the ball properly. What happened?

LEYLAH FERNANDEZ: In the past month that was my serve, but I've been working a lot on that shot with my coach. Now I'm happy to say that my serve is improving every day, and this is the most important thing. It's one of my priorities to improve it.

We'll see in the following weeks what we can do, but I'm happy this week because I was able to win a lot more often, my serve, and I was able to make some aces, and this is great.

We'll see how it keeps going. It's normal sometimes when you toss the ball that it doesn't work, and you start again. Many players do that.

Of course, in the past month it was a problem for me, but now we've been working on it with my coach. It's one of my priorities. I need to improve it.

Of course, we're going to do that one practice at a time and one match at a time.

Q. I think this week was very emotional for you. In English you were saying that maybe you overplayed sometimes today. Was it because of all the emotions?

LEYLAH FERNANDEZ: Maybe the emotions, but today I wanted to be the most aggressive player, but it didn't help me today. I think I was being too aggressive instead of playing my game and play the angles.

So I had this experience. I lost the match, but I learned many lessons.

Q. You often said that when you go on the court, you want to please the crowd. You did that, but you lost today. What did you like this week other than just what happened on the court? What did you experience in Montreal?

LEYLAH FERNANDEZ: What I will remember from this week is the goose bumps that I felt every time I was stepping onto the court and when I was hearing the crowd saying my name and cheering.

That was really what I preferred because I know they are not only there to see me play, but because they are having fun, because they like my game, they like tennis, and this is what I will remember most.

I will also remember the practices I had with my father, my sister, and I spent time with my family. I hadn't seen them for a long time. So these moments are very precious.