Serena Williams Remains Clear Favourite but Leylah Fernandez Escapes Controversial Big-3 Debate With a Diplomatic Reply

The Big Three debate is something that not only the fans but players also love to indulge in. While everyone has his or her favorite among Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, or Novak Djokovic, some either deny picking anyone or sometimes pick all of them. Being involved in the intricacies of exploring the grass courts of Eastbourne, Leylah Fernandez took a moment to pick her favorite.

In a recent podcast, Canadian WTA star Leylah Fernandez indulged in a rapid-fire questionnaire. After several questions including her favorite food and other regular stuff, she was exposed to a question about her “favorite tennis player growing up”.

Without even taking a second to think, the WTA star was quick enough to name Serena Williams as her favorite. “Favorite tennis player growing up, I got a couple, I love Serena,” justifying her love for the American tennis legend. Moving ahead with a fixed rhythm, Fernandez named Roger Federer and then later on realized what she was walking in on. As it turned out, she named the other two as well, keeping herself out of the never-ending debate.

“I also love Roger Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic, that is kind of perfect,” she added, choosing a neutral spot to stand on. It has been a while since Leylah Fernandez is known to carry a sense of admiration for Serena Williams. The WTA pro regards the former American pro as “an icon” along with accepting the fact that she had done “incredible things for the sport”. 

Although she never received an opportunity to play against the legend, her respect still remains firm, setting examples for future generations. However, there has been a moment in the past when Leylah Fernandez picked Roger Federer as her clear favorite.

Leylah Fernandez ditches all other pros for Roger Federer’s backhand

This wasn’t the first time when Leylah Fernandez found herself in a situation to pick her favorite among the big threes. Back in March, Tennis Channel shared a video on social media in which the Canadian WTA star can be seen creating a table of hers, matching the regular shots with players who perform it in the best manner.

While it was Milos Raonic for serve and Ben Shelton for left-handed, the tennis star was quick to name the Swiss tennis maestro for his backhand. “Easy, Roger Federer” Fernandez said, making her choice clear among the big three. Federer’s backhand is known to be one of the strongest of his shots. The tennis star stands among the few who were known for the rare one-handed backhand. While there are only a few left after he left the tennis scene, it is justified to remember him for this unique skill.