19-Year-Old Leylah Fernandez Cracks Into WTA Top 20, Goes One Up on American Coco Gauff

19-year-old Leylah Fernandez has been putting the world on notice with her performances lately. Not only was she the finalist at the US Open 2021, but she also won her first WTA title at 18 years of age in Monterrey.

Leylah was World No. 77 when she entered the US Open in 2021. After her battle for the trophy against Emma Raducanu, Fernandez shot up the rankings chart. Consequently, her US Open run made her the World No. 28.

Now, Fernandez has achieved another career milestone, cracking into the top 20 of the WTA, all before turning 20!

Leylah Fernandez surpasses Coco Gauff into Top 20

Leylah Fernandez did not have the best run at the Australian Summer. The Canadian played both singles and doubles categories at the Adelaide International.

Moreover, she also played in both categories at the Australian Open 2022 as well. In Adelaide, Fernandez lost her second match against Polish star Iga Swiatek in straight sets.

On the other hand, at the Australian Open, Maddison Inglis of Australia defeated Fernandez in the very first round. Moreover, in the doubles category of the Happy Slam, Fernandez and her partner Erin Routliffe lost in the first round, too.

Nevertheless, things seem to be looking up for Leylah Fernandez, as she has finally made it to the top-20 list of players in the world. The new WTA rankings have crowned Leylah the World No. 19, one above American star Coco Gauff.

DIVE DEEPER: ‘Lululemon is The One For Me’: Leylah Fernandez Becomes First Global Ambassador for the Apparel Brand

Coco, who is World No. 20, had a disappointing Australian Open run too, losing in the first round. However, her run at the Adelaide International 2 was noteworthy, where she reached the semi-final before losing to compatriot Madison Keys.

Leylah switched from Asics to Lululemon for 2022

Ahead of the Australian Open, Lululemon Athletica, one of the biggest athletic apparel retailers in North America, signed Leylah Fernandez as their brand ambassador.

Instead of the usual apparel giants that dominate tennis and other sports, Fernandez wanted to “be original, different from the tennis players”. Thus, she chose to sign with Lululemon, a brand she had grown up wearing and loving.

Fernandez, at age 19, is the first global ambassador the Lululemon has signed. Moreover, now that the Australian Open is finished, the brand will soon launch its first tennis-centric capsule collection in collaboration with Leylah.

Certainly, the 19-year-old has a bright future ahead of her. Cracking into the WTA top 20 and becoming a global brand ambassador all before turning 20 are just the beginning.

WATCH THIS STORY: A Look Back at Emma Raducanu’s 2021 Spotlight Moments After US Open Glory