Leylah Fernandez Voices Frustration Over Scheduling Issues
Leylah Fernandez has expressed her frustration with the organizers of the tournament, feeling let down following a disappointing performance in front of her local fans. The emotional aftermath of her loss was evident, with tears still evident over an hour and a half post-match.
The Canadian tennis star suffered a heavy defeat in the first round of the National Bank Open, losing 6-4, 6-1 to Australia’s Maya Joint just two days after clinching her fourth WTA title at the D.C. Open.
Fernandez mentioned that she was promised she would play during the night session on Tuesday, which would have given her more time to recuperate. However, she learned while traveling from Washington to Montreal that this would not happen.
“I did not receive that,” she lamented. “That hurt me because I was really looking forward to playing at night. But I guess it’s a bit of political issues at that point.” Tournament director Valérie Tétreault acknowledged pushing for the preferred scheduling but clarified that the WTA Tour is responsible for match timing. “I didn’t win my fight,” she noted.
Tétreault explained that exceptions had already been made for Fernandez, as she and Joint were among the last matches to be played on Tuesday, despite the tournament having begun earlier. She added that the aim was to avoid having Fernandez play first at 11 a.m.
Tennis Canada supported Tétreault’s remarks, stating that the scheduling was designed to ensure fairness among players. Given Fernandez’s recent title victory, the WTA opted to place her in the latest possible first-round slot to accommodate her travel.
Despite the support, Fernandez expressed her disappointment over the lack of proper recovery time, detailing the intense situation she faced. She also noted that the WTA’s communication about her scheduling was marked by sarcasm, which added to her frustration. “It’s just small things of ‘What if,’ but it didn’t happen, and that’s it,” she concluded.
