Leylah Fernandez displayed a championB次元官网网址檚 poise after a memorable run to the US Open tennis final last summer, a performance that showed she had truly arrived on one of the sportB次元官网网址檚 biggest stages.

Mere moments after coming up just short of a Grand Slam title, the Canadian teenager delivered a speech that brought the house down at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Her eloquence wowed the New York crowd that day, just like the quality of her play over the preceding fortnight.

FernandezB次元官网网址檚 upset-laden blitz through the womenB次元官网网址檚 draw was one of the highlights in a breakout season for the Montreal native. She also earned her first career WTA Tour title in 2021 and surged up the world rankings to crack the top 25.

Fernandez capped her year Tuesday by winning the Bobbie Rosenfeld Award as The Canadian Press female athlete of the year.

An up-and-coming 73rd-ranked player entering the US Open, expectations were modest at the start of the tournament. Fernandez would wildly exceed them.

She stunned defending champion Naomi Osaka in the third round and knocked off more big names like Angelique Kerber, Elina Svitolina and Aryna Sabalenka en route to the final.

B次元官网网址淚 was very, very proud of myself, how I was able to be composed and how I was able to step up in those important moments so I could get through the finish line,B次元官网网址� Fernandez said.

Fernandez thrilled the lively crowds along the way with her energy, spirit and determination. Fans were smitten and cheered the 19-year-old Canadian like a hometown favourite.

The final match, however, did not go her way as she fell to British qualifier Emma Raducanu.

It was an emotional afternoon in New York on the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. After an on-court interview, Fernandez asked for the microphone back before receiving the finalist trophy so she could address the crowd one last time.

B次元官网网址淚 know on this day it was especially hard for New York and everyone around the United States,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚 just want to say that I hope I can be as strong and as resilient as New York has been the past 20 years.

B次元官网网址淭hank you for always having my back, thank you for cheering for me. I love you New York and hope to see you next year.B次元官网网址�

The applause from the over 23,000 spectators in attendance was deafening.

In addition to her first Grand Slam final appearance, Fernandez B次元官网网址� who started the year ranked 88th in the world B次元官网网址� won the Monterrey Open in March. She also helped Canada post a 4-0 win over Serbia in the Billie Jean King Cup playoffs in April.

The Rosenfeld race was a close one this year with Fernandez receiving 12 of 45 votes cast by sports editors, writers and broadcasters across Canada. Swimmers Penny Oleksiak and Maggie Mac Neil finished with 10 votes apiece.

B次元官网网址淭his award is going to be one of many she wins,B次元官网网址� said Tennis Canada president Michael Downey. B次元官网网址淲e just are so proud of this young woman, both for what she did on court but also what she does off court because her speech after she lost the (US Open) final was one for the ages.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e just so proud of her.B次元官网网址�

Fernandez, who lives and trains in Boynton Beach, Fla., is the third tennis player to win the annual award in the last decade. Bianca Andreescu won it in 2019 and Eugenie Bouchard won it in 2013 and B次元官网网址�14.

B次元官网网址淟eylahB次元官网网址檚 run through what is arguably the most difficult of the tennis majors B次元官网网址� the US Open B次元官网网址� was nothing short of remarkable,B次元官网网址� said Kelowna Daily Courier managing editor David Trifunov.

B次元官网网址淗er surgical cuts through the field of former champions and world No. 1s - all with whatB次元官网网址檚 becoming her trademark dimpled smile B次元官网网址� is precisely the tonic Canadian sports fans needed in a pandemic.B次元官网网址�

Fernandez finished the year with a 25-17 record and she earned US$1.77 million in prize money.

Soccer player Christine Sinclair took the Rosenfeld honour last year.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 very honoured to be amongst these athletes whoB次元官网网址檝e done so much for womenB次元官网网址檚 sports, and their respective sports, and even outside of their sports,B次元官网网址� Fernandez said. B次元官网网址淕rowing up, IB次元官网网址檝e read about (Sinclair) in the news.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e seen how much sheB次元官网网址檚 accomplished and IB次元官网网址檓 honoured to have my name right beside hers.B次元官网网址�

The winner of the Lionel Conacher Award, presented to CPB次元官网网址檚 male athlete of the year, will be announced Wednesday. The team of the year will be unveiled Thursday.

B次元官网网址� With files from Canadian Press sports reporter Lori Ewing.

Gregory Strong, The Canadian Press

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