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Dropped from Tennis Quebec's development program when she was
seven-years-old and told by teachers to forget becoming a
professional and focus on school, Fernandez will have the last
laugh on Saturday when faces fellow teen Emma Raducanu for a
first Grand Slam title and a winner's purse of $2.5 million.
"A lot of people doubted me, my family and my dreams," said
Fernandez after knocking out second seed Aryna Sabalenka 7-6(3)
4-6 6-4.
"They kept saying 'No', that I'm not going to be a professional
tennis player, that I should stop and just pursue going to
school.
"I remember one teacher, which was actually very funny -- at the
time it wasn't, but now I'm laughing.
"She told me to stop playing tennis, you will never make it, and
just focus on school."
Fernandez says she carries that rejection with her into every
match and uses it as motivation, along with the other challenges
her family faced along the road to helping her realise her
dream.
Her father Jorge, an Ecuador-born soccer player who knew little
about tennis, stepped in and became her coach, instilling in her
an unshakable self-belief.
Ranked number 73 in the world at the start of the U.S. Open,
most would have seen her bid to reach a Grand Slam final as
'Mission Impossible', but not Fernandez.
"My dad would tell me all the time, there's no limit to my
potential to what I can do," said Fernandez, who celebrated her
19th birthday on Monday. "Every day we just got to keep working
hard, we got to keep going for it.
"Nothing is impossible. There's no limit to what I can do."
The difficult times and determination to overcome are reflected
in the fearless Canadian's relentless attacking play.
Fernandez has also drawn strength and resolve from her mother
and sister, who have been cheering her on from courtside seats
while her father offered advice and inspiration from home.
"My mom had to go to California for a few years to support my
family and I in the tennis world," said Fernandez.
"That few years were definitely hard for me because I needed a
mom, I needed someone to be there for me through the age of
10-to-13.
"I'd barely see her at that time.
"Every time I saw her, it was like seeing a stranger but at the
same time someone so familiar.
"I was just very lucky to have my mom here at this tournament
cheering for me and having fun with me all this time.
"But we've gone through so many things together as a family."
(Reporting by Steve Keating in New York. Editing by Peter
Rutherford)
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