Leylah Fernandez Critiques National Bank Open Scheduling After Loss

Montreal, Canada - Leylah Fernandez, the top-ranked Canadian tennis player, publicly expressed her dissatisfaction with tournament organizers following her unexpected first-round exit at the National Bank Open on July 29, 2025. Fernandez suffered a swift defeat against Australia’s Maya Joint, losing 6-4, 6-1, in a match that left her emotional and frustrated, particularly concerning the scheduling decisions that she claims adversely affected her performance.

In her remarks post-match, Fernandez, who recently secured her fourth WTA title at the D.C. Open, highlighted her disappointment not only with her own play, which she described as “a very, very low level,” but also with the logistical arrangements made by the tournament organizers. “I received a lot of promises about playing during the night session, which would have given me more time to recover, but that didn’t happen,” she stated. “It hurt me because I was very much looking forward to it, but I guess it’s a little bit of political issues at that point.”

Tournament director Valérie Tétreault addressed Fernandez's concerns, noting that while she advocated for a night match slot for the Canadian player, the final scheduling decisions rested with the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA). “I did my utmost to ensure she had the time she needed, but ultimately, the WTA’s scheduling protocols dictate the match timings,” Tétreault explained. She further acknowledged that exceptions had already been made for Fernandez, who was among the last group of players to compete despite the tournament's schedule requiring earlier matches to be played first.

Tennis Canada also released a statement in support of Tétreault, clarifying that the WTA’s regulations necessitate that first-round matches must be concluded before second-round play commences, ensuring fairness across the tournament. Given Fernandez's late arrival in Montreal—approximately 2 a.m. on Monday following her victory in Washington—the WTA made the decision to schedule her match as late as possible on Tuesday.

Despite the circumstances, Fernandez noted the emotional weight of competing in front of her home crowd, stating, “It felt great being on court, hearing the fans and feeling their support. But I was just disappointed with my level of play, and it wasn’t fair for them.”

The match itself highlighted Fernandez's struggles, as she faced six break points and managed to win only 49% of her points on her first serve. Joint, ranked 45th, demonstrated strong performance, securing victory in just 75 minutes. The match saw Fernandez fall behind early, double-faulting twice to lose her opening service game. Although she rallied to 5-4 in the first set, she ultimately faltered, losing both sets decisively.

In an additional layer of frustration, Fernandez criticized the WTA's communication with her father and coach, Jorge Fernandez, claiming the tone used was dismissive. “The way they spoke to my coach was sarcastic, suggesting that two or three hours wouldn’t make a difference. From my point of view, I think it would make a significant difference,” she remarked, emphasizing the importance of adequate recovery time.

This year’s National Bank Open, which features a revamped 12-day, 96-player format, has already raised concerns among organizers about the scheduling conflicts, particularly with the first-round matches commencing the same day as the WTA 500 final in Washington. Tétreault acknowledged the need for reevaluation, stating, “The calendar should prioritize the 1000-level tournaments over the WTA 500, so we’ll have to go back to the drawing board.”

The implications of this scheduling conflict extend beyond just Fernandez’s experience, as they raise questions about the broader management of tournament logistics within the WTA framework, particularly regarding player welfare and competitive fairness. As the tennis season progresses, it remains to be seen how organizers will adapt to avoid similar issues in the future, especially for high-profile players like Fernandez who attract significant local support and attention. This incident underscores the delicate balance between operational logistics and athlete performance in professional sports.