"Stop being dumb and put the ball in": Leylah Fernandez reveals coaching team's advice against 'taller, stronger' Elena Rybakina in Cincinnati Open 2R

Leylah Fernandez revealed her coaching team's advice to take on a 'taller' and 'stronger' Elena Rybakina during the match in the second round of the 2024 Cincinnati Open. The Canadian caused one of the upsets of the tournament by defeating the World No. 4 in a three-setter.

Fernandez kicked off her North American hardcourt swing at the Canadian Open but her campaign came to a disappointing end when she was ousted in the second round by Ashlyn Krueger. She then participated in the final WTA 1000 before the US Open - the Cincinnati Open.

The 21-year-old came from a set down to defeat Yue Yuan 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 and set up a second-round meeting with Elena Rybakina. The Canadian staged yet another impressive comeback to stun the Kazakh 3-6, 7-6(3), 6-4 in two hours and 34 minutes.

During an interview with the Tennis Channel, Leylah Fernandez complimented Rybakina calling her a great player and a tremendous talent, and said that she tried to be as patient as possible and keep the rally alive.

“Elena is such a great player. Such a tremendous talent. The way she’s able to time everything & hit the ball so quick, so fast, and so heavy too.. it’s truly inspiring. I just tried to be patient as much as possible. Trying to put one more ball back in any which way.”

Fernandez also recalled how her coaching box was telling her that the Kazakh was taller and stronger than her and also revealed how her team's hilarious advice to tackle the Kazakh was to stop being 'dumb' and put the ball back in.

“My coach and box were telling me ‘she’s probably a little bit taller than you. A little bit stronger than you. Stop being dumb and just put the ball in.’”

Leylah Fernandez will meet Diana Shnaider in the third round of the Cincinnati Open

Leylah Fernandez (Image Source: Getty)

Leylah Fernandez will take on Diana Shnaider in the third round of the Cincinnati Open, in what will be the first match between the two women.

Shnaider has had a phenomenal North American hardcourt swing so far. She reached the semifinals of the Canadian Open ousting the likes of Coco Gauff and Liudmila Samsonova en route.

At the Cincinnati Open, she comfortably took down Zhang Shuai and Ashlyn Krueger without dropping a set in the opening two rounds respectively to reach the third round.

Leylah Fernandez is in the bottom half of the draw where Jessica Pegula and Zheng Qinwen are the only seeded players remaining.