Leylah Fernandez, a remarkable professional tennis player, was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada on September 6, 2002. Her parents are Jorge Fernandez and Irene Exevea. Today, she lives and practices her craft in Florida, USA, along with her family.
Leylah’s tennis journey started at a very young age, thanks to her father, Jorge, who introduced her to the sport and continues to be her coach. It’s quite rare to witness a teenager making it to the Top 20 in world tennis, but Leylah is among those unique players who defy the odds.
At just 20 years old, she reached her career’s highest ranking of 13th on August 8, 2022.
Since then, her ranking has slipped a bit, and she currently stands as the 95th-best player in the world. Despite her young age, she’s already clinched two Singles titles in her professional career, though she hasn’t won any Doubles titles yet.
Who is Leylah Fernandez’s Coach in 2023?
Jorge Fernandez
In her early years, Leylah Fernandez enjoyed playing soccer like her father, Jorge. However, as CBC reported, Jorge wanted Leylah to find her “own path and sport.” So, she shifted her focus to tennis.
When she was seven, an attempt to enroll her in Quebec’s Talent Development Program was unsuccessful, which left Leylah disheartened. Jorge recalls, “Other kids might have given up and moved onto a new hobby, but not Leylah.”
This led her father, who had never played tennis before, to take up the role of her coach. Leylah began to train intensively in tennis from the age of ten. She showed such relentless dedication to the sport that some coaches expressed concern, fearing it might lead to burnout.
According to ESPN analyst Renne Stubbs, who interacted with Leylah’s family, Jorge’s training approach was akin to “an army regimen.” This tough training regimen helped build Leylah’s resilience, competitiveness, and self-belief, setting her up for success.
As the years rolled by, Leylah continued to play with unwavering determination. By 2019, she had won the junior title at Roland Garros. Despite the disruptions caused by the pandemic in 2020, she participated in various competitions, including the Tokyo Summer Games, often achieving commendable results. Her true breakthrough moment came at the US Open 2021.
Canadian tennis player Leylah Fernandez had a strong showing in 2023, all under the guidance of her father and coach, Jorge Fernandez. Her year started with a commendable performance in the Auckland Open, making it to the quarterfinals. Despite a tough match against world No. 4, Caroline Garcia at the Australian Open, she showed her tenacity by holding set points in both sets. This was followed by a string of noteworthy performances in tournaments such as the Abu Dhabi WTA tournament, Doha, Dubai, Indian Wells, and Miami.
Her doubles career also shone in 2023, with a highlight being her appearance at the Miami Open final, where she partnered with Taylor Townsend. Despite losing to the American duo Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula, the experience led her to achieve a career-high in the doubles rankings.
Later, at the French Open, she reached her first Major doubles final alongside Townsend. These accomplishments underline the effectiveness of Jorge’s coaching and his pivotal role in guiding and shaping Leylah’s career.
Leylah Fernandez’s Past Coaches
Romain Deridder
Romain Deridder is a professional tennis coach with a diverse career in the sports industry. Originally from Grenoble, France, Deridder is highly esteemed for his coaching skills and detailed attention to the game’s intricacies.
His extensive experience includes roles at the University of South Florida and the ProWorld Tennis Academy, where he developed his comprehensive knowledge of tennis and sports conditioning.
In July 2019, Romain joined Leylah Fernandez’s coaching team, adding to the powerful support system backing the rising tennis star. His time with Leylah was fruitful, marked by their win at the 2021 Monterrey Open. Fernandez spoke highly of Deridder, noting, “He’s here, and he focuses on my game… He understands what my dad and I want. He’s helping me.”
Deridder’s approach to training aligns well with Leylah’s philosophy. She said, “My father always told me there’s no limit to my potential and capabilities. Every day we just have to keep working hard and keep moving forward. There’s nothing impossible. There’s no limit to what I can do.”
Leylah Fernandez’s achievements with different coaches
In the table, we have collected data about the trophies won by Leylah Fernandez under the guidance of various coaches.
| Coaches | Years of Completion | Titles |
| Jorge Fernandez | 2021-till date | 2022 Monterrey Open |
| Jorge Fernandez, Romain Deridder | 2019-2021 | 2021 Monterrey Open |
Related: Who Is Ons Jabeur Coach Right Now?
