Leylah Fernandez<\/a> has been somewhat inconsistent since then and she has yet to break into the WTA\u2019s top 10.<\/p>\n While she aims to keep growing as a player, the world number 36 once shared why her coaches were worried about her as a junior player.<\/p>\n Fernandez is one of the toughest opponents on tour due to the fact that she is left-handed and one of the quicker players on the WTA Tour<\/a>.<\/p>\n However, this was not always the case as Fernandez told reporters at the Citi Open<\/a> that she was much slower as a junior and coaches were worried she did not have the physicality to develop into an elite player.<\/p>\n But Fernandez has proved them wrong and she explained what she tells herself each time she works on her fitness. \u201cI think because we knew I wasn\u2019t going to be the tallest player, but we did know that I was fairly quick,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u201cLittle side note, funny story. When I first started playing tennis, there was like a mini camp and they were doing a physical test, kind of a straight-line sprint. I was probably the slowest out of all of the girls there.<\/p>\n \u201cThe coaches were concerned, like she\u2019s not very good physically. They talked to my parents, and my parents said, Yeah, but if you put a tennis ball in front of her and you ask her to run for every ball, she\u2019s gonna do it.<\/p>\n \u201cHer heart and her belief in herself is much bigger than most of the girls in that camp. So, you know, I just kind of remind myself that that\u2019s the key.<\/p>\n \u201cEvery time I\u2019m doing fitness, knowing that I\u2019m not going to be bigger, stronger, faster than most girls, I know if I have the right mindset and right belief in myself, I can kind of get to a lot of the balls on court.\u201d<\/p>\n Fernandez has struggled for form at times this season, but she has found her range in Washington D.C.<\/p>\n She began the tournament with a comprehensive win over Eastbourne champion Maya Joint<\/a>, before upsetting Jessica Pegula<\/a> in the second round.<\/p>\n![\"Leylah](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/GettyImages-2226903672-1024x683.jpg\")
Photo by Scott Taetsch\/Getty ImagesLeylah Fernandez says coaches were concerned about her physicality in her junior days\u00a0<\/p>\n![\"Leylah](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/GettyImages-2227023004-1024x683.jpg\")
Photo by Scott Taetsch\/Getty ImagesLeylah Fernandez reaches first WTA semifinal of the season<\/p>\n