Leylah Fernandez has opened up about a “scare” her family experienced earlier this year.

The 22-year-old tennis star, who exited the Canadian Open in the first round last week, admitted that the incident had taken its toll. While Fernandez kept the details private, she hinted that both her family and team faced “challenges” beyond the tennis court.

Now, having achieved a “balance,” the Canadian athlete is looking to bounce back. She gained fame with her run to the 2021 U.S. Open final, where she was defeated by Emma Raducanu, but recently snapped a 21-month title drought by clinching the Citi Open crown.

“Mental state’s been a little up and down. My family and I, we went through a bit of a scare earlier this year, and same with my team,” Fernandez revealed ahead of the Cincinnati Masters. “I feel like this year we’ve been challenged a lot off the court.

“Now that we’ve found the balance, things are a lot better. We’re enjoying our time. We’re very grateful to be here, and now I’m just excited to be playing the North American swing. It’s been a while since I’ve been back in the U.S. and Canada, so it’s great to be playing near home.”

Currently ranked No. 24 in the world, Fernandez has secured a bye into the second round at the Cincinnati Masters. There, she may face the legendary 45-year-old Venus Williams, who has recently made a full-time comeback on the WTA tour.

Williams, a seasoned veteran with 23 more years of experience than Fernandez, could face the young talent if she triumphs over Spain’s Jessica Bouzas in the opening round. Fernandez has expressed her admiration for Venus and Serena Williams, who were her childhood idols, and is excited about the possibility of playing against Venus.

“Oh man, it’s going to be an incredible match if it does happen,” Fernandez said. “Venus, she’s a legend. She’s an icon. Growing up, when I first started playing tennis, people asked me, ‘Who did you watch when you were growing up?’ I always said Justine Henin and the Williams sisters.

“I see a lot of similarities between their family and my family. They kind of built the path for us, and if I do have the opportunity to play against her, I’m just gonna be super happy, a little kid living her dream and playing one of her idols.”