BNP PARIBAS OPEN

March 14, 2022

Leylah Fernandez

Press Conference

L. FERNANDEZ/S. Rogers

6-1, 3-6, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Can you talk about your match tonight.

LEYLAH FERNANDEZ: Yeah, it was a very good match from both our parts. I think the first set I started off pretty well, serving well. Just returning on key moments fairly good.

On the second set, I wasn't surprised Shelby came out strong. Unfortunately I did a few mistakes on my service game. That gave her the opportunity to go up.

I just tried to keep fighting, keep finding solutions, especially trying to break her back. It didn't work out.

In the third set I'm glad that I still kept fighting, still tried to find solutions. At the end of the day I was happy that my serve worked well, especially on important moments.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. How about the conditions here? How do they suit your game? How do they vary playing in the day and night?

LEYLAH FERNANDEZ: I really like playing at night, evening matches. I don't see a big difference with day and night. I just like playing night matches because there are bigger crowds. The people are there having fun. I hear them cheering us on. I just like the environment, the vibe that I feel on court.

Q. You were playing an American on American soil. That crowd seemed pretty supportive of you. Wondering if you noticed that during the match?

LEYLAH FERNANDEZ: I did notice there's a lot more support towards me. I was very, very happy and grateful. That definitely helped me refocus for the third set. A few times I would look up and see a few Canadian flags. I was thinking, Yes, this is good, let's keep working, let's get to the next point, keep fighting. I was glad to hear them cheering me on. Hope to see them on my next match.

Q. What do you think about your next match?

LEYLAH FERNANDEZ: It will be a very tough one. She's the defending champion. She has a lot of good matches under her belt. I'm very excited to play against her.

It's going to be an exciting one. I'll just try to focus on my game and see what my dad has in store for me to execute.

Q. Have you ever practiced with her or anything like that?

LEYLAH FERNANDEZ: We did try to organize a few practices. It's a little hard. Sometimes our training schedules don't match up. When we do practice together, we always have fun. She's a great person. It's great to have a player like her on tour because not only is she nice off court but she's also a great player on court.

I can't wait to share the court with her playing a good match.

Q. Last time you played was first round of qualifying a few years ago now. Hasn't been that long. Your careers have changed since then. How do you expect the match to be different?

LEYLAH FERNANDEZ: I think it's going to be as exciting as the last one. I remember we were both playing really well, serving well. It was a close match, if I'm not mistaken.

Hopefully it will be the same tomorrow. I'll just try to focus on my own game, try to improve on a few things, just have fun on the court, put on a good show for everybody.

Q. How far in the past does the US Open final seem?

LEYLAH FERNANDEZ: Oh, very far. I think is just a thing in the past. It's a long road ahead. I just try to focus on today, the present moment. I'm glad that every day I have a good team around me to remind me the past is the past, let's just focus on the present, not focus on the future.

It's a good thing I have them around me to keep me grounded and focused on my own goals.