Leylah Fernandez spends off-season winding down with sister Bianca, enjoys arcade games & soccer action with Liverpool vs Manchester City
Leylah Fernandez is making the most of her off-season by spending quality time with her family. She was seen enjoying an arcade game and later immersing herself in the thrilling Premier League match between Liverpool and Manchester City.
Fernandez gave fans a glimpse into her off-season activities through Instagram, sharing a mix of lighthearted fun and focused downtime. In one clip, the Canadian tennis star tried her hand at the stick-falling reaction game, a test of reflexes commonly found in arcade venues.
While her performance started shaky—missing several sticks—Fernandez managed to catch a few before missing more towards the end. Laughing at her efforts, she captioned the post:
"I have some work to do."
In another video, Fernandez showcased a more focused side as she tuned into the highly anticipated Premier League clash between league leaders Liverpool and defending champions Manchester City.
While her sister Bianca posed cheerfully in the background, Leylah was laser-focused on the game, captioning the clip:
"Soccer time means I'm locked in."
Leylah Fernandez says she follows Real Madrid and takes inspiration from Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola
Leylah Fernandez has been vocal about her love for soccer. In 2021, she revealed that she takes inspiration from Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola.
"I really like Pep and his style is like my tennis game so I’m learning from him,” said Fernandez (via Billie Jean King Cup). "Pep is a very demanding coach, but the way he builds his team is amazing, as is his tactical planning.. I can see how much they open up the field and how much they try to pick holes and work it. When I put that together with tennis, I am an offensive player, I am trying to find the holes on the court, open it up and hit winners where I can."
Notably, Fernandez's father Jorge, who is her tennis coach, played soccer for local clubs. Jorge is a Real Madrid fan and Leylah followed suit. While she was in Madrid in May 2022, she told Eurosport:
"Growing up, the number one thing is that my dad is a Real Madrid fan, so of course I was attracted to the soccer team as well."
In on-the-court matters, Leylah Fernandez had a fairly successful 2024. She reached her second WTA 1000 final in doubles with Yulia Putintseva in Cincinnati. In singles, she reached two quarterfinals in WTA 1000 events. Overall, she held a 31-24 record in singles and a 19-13 record in doubles.