Leylah Fernandez is set to begin her North American hardcourt season in Washington after signing up for this year's Citi Open.
It has been over nine months since the Canadian rose to stardom at the 2021 US Open. She had an incredible run to the final at Flushing Meadows as an unseeded player, stunning the tennis world in the process.
Fernandez defeated Naomi Osaka, Angelique Kerber, and Aryna Sabalenka on her way to the final. She eventually fell in the final to Emma Raducanu, whose run in New York was also a shock.
After a mixed start to 2022, Fernandez reached the quarterfinal of the French Open. Unfortunately, an injury jeopardized her chances of making the semifinal, even though she still pushed Martina Trevisan to three sets.
Fernandez sustained a stress fracture in her foot, which is a problem that usually requires a lot of recovery time. Therefore, the 19-year-old cannot play during the grass-court season.
However, Fernandez shared the positive update that she expects to be ready to play at the Washington Open. She announced the exciting news on her Twitter page.
"This injury won't keep me off the court for long. I'm excited to say that I'll be playing the 2022 Citi Open for the very first time. So come and cheer us on between July 30th to August 7th at Washington DC."
Hopefully, Fernandez's confidence does not turn out to be unfounded. She is one of the most exciting young talents in the women's game, and any tournament is better when she competes.
The Canadian showed last year just how dangerous she is in North American hardcourts at her best. If she is fully fit, she is capable of strong results again, although the entry list in Washington this year does have some great players, including the US Open champion Raducanu.