Leylah Fernandez recently expressed her gratitude for being recognized for representing her Latino and Filipino heritage on the global stage through tennis.
Fernandez identifies with her Latino roots from her father, Jorge, who is originally from Ecuador. Jorge, a former semi-professional soccer player, transitioned to coaching his daughters, Leylah and her younger sister, Bianca Jolie, in tennis. The former World No. 13’s Filipino heritage comes from her mother, Irene Exevea, who is of Filipino-Canadian nationality.
Leylah Fernandez Reacts to Being Honored for Representing Her Latino & Filipino Heritage
Recently, Latinos in Sports honored Fernandez with the Pionera Award for her contributions to tennis as a Latina.
Fernandez shared a series of photos from the award ceremony on social media, stating that her Ecuadorian roots and culture significantly influence how she trains, competes, and views the world. She expressed pride in representing Latinas in sports and showcasing their capabilities.
“I feel very honored to have been awarded the Pionera Award by Latinos in Sports (LIS). My Ecuadorian roots and culture are a big part of what I do, how I train, compete, and view the world. I am extremely proud to represent Latinas in sports and showcase what we are capable of doing,” Fernandez captioned her Instagram post.
The 23-year-old also thanked the team at Latinos in Sports for the honor and for celebrating her birthday, which was on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025.
“A huge thanks to the whole team at Latinos in Sports for a wonderful evening – they even thought to celebrate my birthday!! Feeling loved, supported and blessed ❤️,” she added.
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The Philippine Consulate General in New York also recognized Fernandez for her contributions to tennis as a Filipina. Her mother, Irene, was also invited to the event.
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On the tennis side of things, Fernandez most recently competed at the 2025 US Open, reaching the third round in the singles event before being defeated by the eventual champion, Aryna Sabalenka.
The former World No. 13 also participated in the women’s doubles event at the New York Major alongside Venus Williams. They received a wildcard entry into the main draw and advanced to the quarterfinals before being eliminated by the team of eventual runner-ups Kateřina Siniaková and Taylor Townsend.
Where Will Fernandez Compete Next?
Following the conclusion of her 2025 US Open campaign, Fernandez is scheduled to begin her campaign in the Asian swing of the Tour. She is expected to compete next at the 2025 China Open, which will take place at the National Tennis Center in Beijing from Sept. 24 to Oct. 6, 2025.
Alongside Fernandez, players such as defending champion Coco Gauff, Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Świątek, Bianca Andreescu, Mirra Andreeva, Amanda Anisimova, Belinda Bencic, Katie Boulter, and Naomi Osaka, among others, are also expected to participate in the WTA 1000 hard-court tournament in Beijing.
At the 2024 China Open, the Canadian was seeded 20th and began her campaign in the second round after receiving a first-round bye. In her opening match, she faced Peyton Stearns and lost with a scoreline of 7-5, 6-2.
