Leylah Fernandez: Happy With My Finish But Not My Season

 

• Fernandez was picking up early exits for five months before ending runner-up at the US Open.

EKO HOT BLOG reports that world No. 24 Leylah Fernandez made it clear that the US Open final loss didn’t affect her decision to end her season prematurely.

After losing in the US Open final to Emma Raducanu, Fernandez appeared in just one more tournament.

Fernandez wanted to give herself time to rest and then have a big offseason in which she would focus on improving her game.

“Before the US Open, we got the whole team together and decided that closing the season early would be the best option to focus on the aspects of my game that had not worked during the year.

The result of the US Open did not make us change our plans for 2022,” Fernandez revealed.

Through April and August Fernandez was picking up early exits at tournaments but then put up a stunning run at the US Open to make her maiden Grand Slam.

“As a player I am not happy with my season. Obviously, I am very satisfied with the finish, but the first part of the year made me understand how I had to improve not only from a technical point of view but also mentally to be ready for the next season.

I want to play free mentally without thinking about the points to defend or the past results, and in that I have the great luck of having a great coach like my father who helps me to always be focused on the present,” Fernandez explained.

If everything goes well and as planned, Fernandez will start her season in Australia. Fernandez didn’t impress at this year’s Australian Open as she lost in the first round to Elise Mertens. “We will start the season in Australia.

There are some tournaments that I would like to play before the Australian Open, but we have yet to decide which ones,” Fernandez said.