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Canadian tennis player Leylah Fernandez’s 2025 season is said to be a redemption arc. After a reportedly challenging 2024 marred by a wrist injury that sidelined her for three months, she roared back with a semi-final appearance at the Australian Open and a title in Dubai. In the recently concluded US Open, she had a quarter-finals run alongside Venus Williams. They stunned fans by upsetting the No. 8 seeds in the second round and advanced to the quarters, where they lost 6-4, 7-5 to eventual finalists Elena Rybakina and Veronika Kudermetova.
In a heartfelt tribute to her Latin American heritage, Leylah Fernandez expressed profound gratitude upon receiving the Pionera Award from Latinos in Sports (LIS). The award ceremony, held at a gala in New York City on Monday, September 8, 2025, capped a whirlwind week for Fernandez. Just days earlier, she and Venus Williams had captivated audiences at Flushing Meadows with their unlikely doubles partnership, reaching the quarter-finals before falling to a top-seeded duo.
“I feel very honored to have been awarded the Pionera Award by Latinos in Sports (LIS),” Fernandez said in a statement released post-ceremony. “My Ecuadorian roots and culture are a big part of what I do, how I train, compete and view the world. I am extremely proud to represent Latinas in sports and showcase what we are capable of doing,” she further added.
Leylah Fernandez joins the elite list of tennis players which includes former former world number one Garbine Muguruza
The Pionera Award by LIS, founded in 2019 to promote diversity and inclusion in sports, has honored figures like soccer star Alex Morgan and baseball pioneer Maria Pepe in the past. Fernandez joins a select group of tennis recipients, including former world No. 1 Garbine Muguruza. In her run at the US Open 2025, her pairing with Venus Williams was reportedly one of the tournament's feel-good stories.
The duo, who teamed up spontaneously after Fernandez's singles exit in the third round against World number one Iga Swiatek, reportedly brought a mix of youth and experience to the court. Williams, the 45-year-old seven-time Grand Slam singles champion, was making a doubles comeback, while Fernandez provided the athleticism and baseline power. “Partnering with Leylah was a breath of fresh air,” Venus Williams reportedly said during an on-court interview.
Leylah Fernandez echoed the sentiment in a joint press conference, and said, “Venus is a legend, but off the court, she's so approachable. We bonded over our love for the game and shared stories about overcoming odds. It was special to share the US Open court with her, especially as a Latina representing my roots.” Ranked No. 28 entering the tournament, Fernandez has climbed to No. 22, with her aggressive left-handed game reportedly drawing comparisons to early-career Justine Henin.
