Google News Leylah Annie Fernandez credits Arantxa Sanchez Vicario for shock Naomi Osaka win
by DZEVAD MESIC | VIEW 12546
World No. 73 Leylah Annie Fernandez went out for a dinner with 1994 US Open champion Arantxa Sanchez Vicario the night before her clash versus Naomi Osaka. On Friday, Fernandez produced a major upset at the US Open as she surprised world No.
3 Osaka 5-7 7-6 (2) 6-4. "I was so grateful to have that chance ... She gave me a few pointers going into the Naomi match. She definitely helped & gave me a lot of confidence," Fernandez said of going out to a dinner with Sanchez Vicario, per Mark Masters.
Fernandez believed she could stun Osaka
"From a very young age, I knew I was able to beat anyone who is in front of me. I was always that competitive, saying I'm going to win against my dad in soccer, even though that's impossible," Fernandez claimed after beating Osaka.
"I guess today that belief came true. "I don't know why finally my game is clicking. The past few months, even after Monterrey, I've been working hard, training super well. My coach, my dad, is saying be patient, have confidence in your game, it will show in matches.
I'm glad it finally did." After losing to Fernandez, Osaka revealed what winning just doesn't bring her happiness anymore. "I guess we're all dealing with some stuff, but I know that I'm dealing with some stuff," she said.
"I feel like for me recently when I win I don't feel happy. I feel more like a relief. And then when I lose, I feel very sad. I don't think that's normal." Osaka was tearful during her press conference and revealed her plans to take another break from tennis.
"I feel like I'm kind of at this point where I'm trying to figure out what I want to do, and I honestly don't know when I'm going to play my next tennis match. Sorry," Osaka said. ""I think I'm going to take a break from playing for a while."