Leylah Fernandez reveals love for boxing, calls Floyd Mayweather 'role model'

• Tennis News
• Tennis Stories

Leylah Fernandez is a boxing fan and revealed Floyd Mayweather was one of her role models growing up. In the boxing world, Mayweather is widely considered one of the greatest to ever do it. Fernandez, 20, is one of the most promising and talented Canadian players in the game, having ended as runner-up at the 2021 US Open.

"We love watching boxing, like, Floyd Mayweather, he was one of my role models growing up. I loved how the way he was able to move, dodge and use offense and defense and how he was able to move so fast when punches were coming right at him so quickly," Fernandez said on Tennis Channel.

Also, Fernandez confirmed she loved to watch Rocky Balboa movies. "Of course, I'm [a 'Rocky' fan]. I love Rocky. I've watched all the movies and so inspirational too, so it's great," Fernandez added.

Fernandez took boxing lessons during the offseason

Because of her love for boxing, Fernandez decided to take some lessons and see how it would look.

It went well as Fernandez absolutely loved the experience. "This off-season, we decided why not try boxing for fun and I instantly loved it. I loved that my coach was so nice to us. First time I met him, he was very intimidating but he was so nice.

He was able to start from the beginning, show me the basics and he had the patience for that and I instantly loved that," Fernandez revealed. Meanwhile, Fernandez won her first match of the clay season but then suffered a loss.

In her first clay match of the year, Fernandez defeated Evgeniya Rodina 6-3 6-2 in the Charleston first round. Fernandez, who entered the match as the big favorite against Rodina, routinely handled the business against the Russian tennis player.

It was the first-ever meeting on the WTA Tour between Fernandez and Rodina. But after beating Rodina, Fernandez suffered a 7-5 7-6 (6) loss to Paula Badosa in the Charleston second round.