Leylah Fernandez received encouraging words from tennis legend Billie Jean King following her loss in the 2024 Billie Jean King Cup finals. Fernandez, representing Canada, was part of the defending champion team but faced a tough defeat against Katie Boulter of Great Britain in the quarterfinals. The match ended 6-2, 6-4 in Boulter’s favor, and with Rebecca Marino also losing to Emma Raducanu, Canada was eliminated from the competition early.
After her loss, Fernandez expressed her disappointment on social media, stating, “This one hurts. Grateful for the opportunity to have played for Canada again and for the incredible support we received this week in Malaga.” In response, Billie Jean King, the iconic American tennis player for whom the event is named, offered her wisdom, telling Fernandez, “It’s feedback, not failure. Looking forward to watching your continued journey in 2025.”
Fernandez appreciated King’s words, replying, “Thank you for your wisdom and motivation @billiejeanking. I’ll take the feedback and you can count on me to give it my all in 2025.”
Despite the setback, Fernandez had a strong 2024 season, finishing with a 31-25 record but without any titles. She had a memorable role in Canada’s victory in the 2023 Billie Jean King Cup, where she won crucial singles matches against Magda Linette (Poland) and Sara Sorribes Tormo (Spain) in the group stages, followed by a pivotal win over Marketa Vondrousova (Czech Republic) in the semifinals. Fernandez also teamed up with Gabriela Dabrowski in doubles, securing another vital victory. In the final against Italy, Fernandez clinched the title for Canada with a straight-set win over Jasmine Paolini.
Fernandez’s resilience and determination were key to Canada’s success in 2023, and she remains focused on improving as she enters the 2025 season.
