Venus Williams gives her honest verdict on Leylah Fernandez after playing doubles with her at the US Open

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Venus Williams played in three different events at this year’s US Open…

After being eliminated from the mixed doubles and singles, Williams entered the doubles competition alongside Canada’s Leylah Fernandez.

The pair struck up a powerful partnership and reached the quarterfinals of the US Open, defeating two seeded teams at Flushing Meadows.

Eventually, they came unstuck, losing to the number-one seeds, Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, in straight sets.

Reflecting on their run to the last eight, Williams has now shared what she really thinks about Fernandez.

Venus Williams says Leylah Fernandez is ‘tenacious’ and able to raise her game at the right moments

The American was full of praise for her US Open doubles partner.

“Leylah [Fernandez] is just tenacious,” said Williams.

“It was so much fun to see her energy and her intensity levels.

“A lot of players have ups and downs. But she was straight through, intense the whole time, and I’m definitely like that too.

“She was able to raise her game at the right moments.”

Fernandez certainly raised her game alongside Williams, as the pair picked up three wins together on Louis Armstrong Stadium.

Venus Williams and Leylah Fernandez at the 2025 US Open

• 1R [WIN] vs (6) Lyudmyla Kichenok/Ellen Perez – 7-6, 6-3
• 2R [WIN] vs Eri Hozumi/Ulrikke Eikeri – 7-6, 6-1
• 3R [WIN] vs (12) Ekaterina Alexandrova/Zhang Shuai – 6-3, 6-4
• QF [LOSS] vs (1) Katerina Siniakova/Taylor Townsend – 1-6, 2-6

However, Williams very nearly decided against teaming up with Fernandez, as she now explains why she was hesitant to accept the Canadian’s offer.

“I wasn’t going to play, then apparently Leylah’s partner pulled out at the last minute,” she said.

“I walked off the court after my singles match thinking, ok, I can finally relax. I played the best I could, I was proud of my efforts, and I never really feel that way, but I was already kind of out.

“The next thing I know, it’s like ‘Can you play?’

“I was thinking no, because whenever I would play with players in the past, they would get so tight, they just weren’t able to perform, so I don’t need that in my life.

“But on the way home, I was like, maybe I’ll give it a try. 

“I’m so glad, that’s why you’ve got to keep going, you never know when that one time, things will go for you, and there we were.

“She gave me that opportunity to be back in the US Open, in the arena that I love, and I think that was just the time of a lifetime for everyone on the team.”

Fernandez helped Williams make another deep run at Flushing Meadows, but how well did she perform throughout 2025?

Leylah Fernandez’s 2025 season in review

The 23-year-old endured another tricky Grand Slam campaign in singles, failing to reach the last 16 at any of the four major tournaments.

Fernandez didn’t fare much better at the WTA 1000 level either, winning just five matches across the 10 events.

It was at the WTA 500 and WTA 250 level that she excelled, however, winning two titles, at the Washington Open and Japan Open.

Thanks to her performances in Washington and Japan, Fernandez finished 2025 ranked 22nd in the world, the best year-end ranking of her career.

Leylah Fernandez’s year-end rankings

She’ll no doubt look to make another step forward in 2026 and finally make an impression at the Grand Slam level.

Fernandez will likely return in the build-up to the Australian Open, which is scheduled to begin on Monday, January 12.