Leylah Fernandez, the 22-year-old Canadian tennis star, recently showed her humorous and self-critical side off the court. During the off-season, Fernandez tried her hand at a viral dance challenge to the hit song “APT” by Rosé and Bruno Mars. However, her attempt didn’t go as planned, leading her to share a playful reaction on Instagram. “I guess I’m sticking to tennis,” she captioned a video of herself struggling to keep up with the dance steps, visibly frustrated with her mistakes.
Interestingly, just a week earlier, Fernandez had displayed a much smoother performance to the same song, posting a lighthearted clip after a long day of practice with Team Canada. “This is how I feel after a full day of practice with Team Canada,” she wrote, showing her fun-loving personality while preparing for intense competition.
This light-hearted moment came after a challenging episode on the court. Representing Canada at the 2024 Billie Jean King Cup Finals in Málaga, Fernandez faced immense pressure in the semifinals against Great Britain. With her team trailing 0-1 after Rebecca Marino’s loss to Emma Raducanu, Fernandez needed a win to keep Canada’s title hopes alive. However, she fell to Katie Boulter 6-2, 6-4, resulting in Canada’s elimination.
Following the defeat, Fernandez expressed her disappointment on social media, calling the loss a tough one to swallow but also showing gratitude for the experience. “This one hurts. Grateful for the opportunity to have played for Canada again and for the incredible support we received this week in Málaga,” she wrote.
Among the many supportive comments, one stood out: a heartfelt message from tennis legend Billie Jean King. “It’s feedback, not failure. Looking forward to watching your continued journey in 2025,” King commented, encouraging Fernandez to view the loss as part of her growth.