Tennis-No summertime blues for Fernandez in Melbourne

Tennis – Australian Open – Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia – January 14, 2024 Canada’s Leylah Fernandez reacts during her first round match against Czech Republic’s Sara Bejlek

By Nick Mulvenney

MELBOURNE (Reuters) – Leylah Fernandez admits that her results at the Australian Open have been sub par in her four previous visits and the former U.S. Open finalist is hoping that a focus on having fun will trigger a change of fortunes this year.

The 21-year-old is already assured of matching her best performance at Melbourne Park after reaching the second round with a 7-6(5) 6-2 win over Czech teenager Sara Bejlek on John Cain Arena on Sunday.

Fernandez signalled her more whimsical approach to the year’s first Grand Slam by saying on court she would be getting down to a bit of crocheting before she faces American Alycia Parks in round two on Wednesday.

“I’ve never had excellent results in Australia, but I think every year I’m just learning little by little about my mistakes, what I’ve done right, what I’ve done wrong,” she later told reporters.

“This year I think we just wanted to come out here and just have fun. I love playing in the summer so … I’m just going to play and have fun out there, and hopefully the results are coming my way.”

Despite her poor previous form, Fernandez said she loved the changeable Melbourne weather as well as the passion of the local fans and just enjoyed wandering around the city.

“I think for me I just like to go out of the hotel and just walk a little bit, walk along the water,” she added.

“Sometimes I just go out with my coach and just kind of talk nonsense and just spend time outside of the tennis court and hotel.”

Although she reached the quarter-finals of the French Open in 2022 and has three WTA singles titles to her name, it will take something special for Fernandez to no longer be defined by her amazing run to the 2021 final at Flushing Meadows.

Her form towards the end of the 2023 season suggested that might not be such a far-fetched notion.

Fernandez won the Hong Kong Open and reached the semi-finals in Jiangxi as well as leading Canada to the Billy Jean Cup title for the first time.

Now ranked 36th in the world, Fernandez said she was trying not to over-analyse her recent resurgence in form.

“I’m just trying to enjoy the moment and not think about what I’ve done in the past or what I should be doing in the future,” she said.

“I’m just going to try to enjoy the moment here with my

team.”

(Reporting by Nick Mulvenney, editing by Peter Rutherford)