Barbara Schett, Eurosport’s tennis expert and former world No. 7, has raised concerns over the “insane” treatment of Leylah Fernandez by her father, Jorge Fernandez, as their father-daughter dynamic continues to attract attention. This issue has come to the forefront alongside the ongoing controversy surrounding Elena Rybakina and her coach, Stefano Vukov.
Vukov, the Croatian coach who has faced a year-long suspension from the WTA for violating their code of conduct by mentally abusing Rybakina, has been the subject of much discussion. Rybakina, who has stood by Vukov despite the suspension, attempted to rehire him in January, expressing frustration over the lack of support from her fellow players on the WTA Tour.
In an interview with Kicker, Schett shared her belief that many players hesitate to speak up on such matters due to fear of the personal consequences they may face. She also raised red flags about the dynamic between Leylah Fernandez, currently ranked No. 28 in the world, and her father.
Schett commented, “The problem is that many players don’t dare to say anything because they’re afraid of personal consequences. For example, I was incredibly afraid of Jelena Dokic’s father. I would probably never have said anything because I thought he would kill me.”
She pointed out that, like Rybakina, Fernandez might not fully understand the extent of the situation in her younger years, but Schett made it clear that the way Fernandez’s father treats her is a serious issue. “I am also curious to see what happens to Leylah Fernandez’s father because the way he treats his daughter is insane. It is terrible that something like this still exists today and is sometimes accepted,” Schett continued.
Fernandez, who reached the 2021 US Open final and has three WTA Tour titles to her name, has always been coached by her father. Jorge Fernandez, originally from Ecuador, moved to Canada as a child and played semi-professional football before venturing into tennis coaching. Despite lacking formal tennis coaching credentials, he has worked alongside his daughters, Leylah and Bianca, throughout their careers.
While Leylah Fernandez has never publicly expressed any concerns about her father’s approach, she has spoken positively about the mental strength her father has instilled in her. In a 2023 interview at the Australian Open, the 22-year-old said, “Mental is extremely important. I’m very grateful my parents, especially my dad, has reinforced that. He hasn’t really taught me about tennis or technique but more of the mental side of the sport. Because it’s hard. You’re all alone out there on the court. Most of the time you don’t have a coach with you, or the coach can’t talk to you during points.”
The Canadian player’s last tournament was the Dubai Tennis Championships, where she was knocked out in the opening round by Elise Mertens. Looking ahead, Fernandez will return to the courts next week at the Indian Wells tournament, where she will be hoping to make an impact and continue her development on the WTA Tour.