Leylah Fernandez wants to go on a date—but first you have to meet her parents

WASHINGTON, DC—Have you ever dreamed of dating a professional tennis player? Leylah Fernandez’s DMs are open.

The 2021 US Open finalist surprised social media over the weekend with a charmingly earnest appeal to the men of Montréal, hoping to go on her very first date during the National Bank Open next week.

“There’ve been a lot of responses,” she exclaimed after winning her first round at the Mubadala Citi DC Open on Monday. “I think the first day, there were maybe over 100 messages. I’ve got a lot of options.”

Fresh off an emphatic D.C. victory over Maya Joint, Fernandez told me the clarion call came out of a conversation with father and coach Jorge earlier this summer.

“My dad point blank asked me if I’d gone on a date yet, and I told him I hadn’t,” she recalled, adding with a laugh, “I’ve never really had the time, and no one’s really asked me, which, I don’t know why!

“He suggested I post a video on Instagram and have a date in Montréal where you feel at home and you feel comfortable.”

There was only one caveat.

“Of course, he was like, ‘But, he has to meet me first!’ I agreed that was 100% fair.”

The world No. 36 has spent the last few evenings combing through Instagram DM requests—typically a no-go zone for athletes targeted by angry bettors—and has found a few contenders along with a sense of community.

“I got responses from other athletes, including ones I went to the Olympics with, and they told me, ‘I know how you feel,’ or, ‘When I was 22, I hadn’t gone on a date yet, either.’ At this age, we’re all either studying or going to sports competitions, so reading those messages not only makes me feel better and like I’m not the odd one out, but it’s also pretty cool that we’re able to have those conversations together.”

I got responses from other athletes, including ones I went to the Olympics with, and they told me, ‘I know how you feel,’ or, "When I was 22, I hadn’t gone on a date yet, either." At this age, we’re all either studying or going to sports competitions, so reading those messages not only makes me feel better and like I’m not the odd one out, but it’s also pretty cool that we’re able to have those conversations together. Leylah Fernandez

The move is reminiscent of one made by fellow Canadian Eugenie Bouchard, who took fan John Goehrke to a Brooklyn Nets game after a back and forth on Twitter. The 2014 Wimbledon finalist is in the midst of winding down her tennis career, planning to play her final tournament in Montréal, and was supportive of Fernandez in her quest for love (or something like it).

“I personally love interacting with fans and I think they appreciate that I do that,” she told me after her doubles match against Venus Williams on Monday. “I believe it creates a fun atmosphere and community.

“I hope she vets the person beforehand; that’s what I did before my Twitter date. I did a background check on my guy, so as long as she does that, we’re all good. I hope she has a great time, and she’d better thank me for that idea.”

Fernandez, who listed Ryan Gosling among her celebrity crushes and his 2024 film The Fall Guy as her favorite rom-com, sketched out her ideal first date—envisioning the standard trip to a coffee shop and a walk around the park—and hopes to take the classic “one match at a time” approach to her dating pool debut.

“I’ve never been on one date before, so I just want to experience how it goes from there. We’re not going to think too much ahead.

“It’s also about getting to know each other, what his hobbies are and what he likes. He can ask me the same because, yeah, I’m a tennis player but that’s not all I am. It’s just about having a little conversation and seeing if there’s a mutual interest.”

Though love can blossom on tour, Bouchard noted the pitfalls of long-distance relationships and cautioned against players mixing personal and professional lives.

I’m a tennis player but that’s not all I am. It’s just about having a little conversation and seeing if there’s a mutual interest. Leylah Fernandez

“With our lifestyle, it has to be long distance, and long distance is just so hard. I’ve had some relationships like that and they’ve been great, but it’s been hard to build a foundation and have stability—unless you want to date someone on the tour, which I highly recommend you don’t do.

“My DMs are always open until there’s a ring!” she joked.

Fernandez promised to keep fans in the loop once the date is set, but don’t expect a Bachelor-style production.

“I want to keep that part private and I want to keep it fair for the person with me,” she said, adding with a hopeful smile, “We’ll see!”