Allegations against Leylah Fernandez's father, Jorge, have stirred considerable discussion within the tennis community, particularly following statements made by former professional player Barbara Schett. The remarks come amid scrutiny of coaching practices, particularly concerning mental abuse, highlighted by the recent controversies surrounding Elena Rybakina and her former coach, Stefano Vukov.
Barbara Schett, who achieved success as both a player and commentator, expressed her concerns about Jorge Fernandez's treatment of his daughter Leylah during her career. Schett's comments have emerged at a time when the dynamics between players and their coaches are under increased examination, especially following Vukov's one-year suspension from the WTA for mental abuse against Rybakina. "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..." said Schett during her interview with Kicker.
Schett's allegations come against the backdrop of the continued controversy involving Rybakina, who has been vocal about her support for Vukov, even attempting to rehire him after his suspension. This situation has raised questions about the willingness of athletes to speak out against abusive coaching methods. Many, including Schett, believe players often refrain from voicing concerns due to fear of retribution.
During her tenure on the WTA tour, Barbara Schett experienced fear around the dynamic of her own coach, indicating how deeply these relationships can affect player welfare. She reflected, "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." These reflections underline the environmental pressures athletes face when confronted by abusive coaches.
Jorge Fernandez, originally from Ecuador and later settled in Canada, has coached Leylah and her sister Bianca since they were children. Despite lacking formal training, Fernandez played a key role in Leylah's ascent to prominence, including her remarkable run to the finals of the 2021 US Open, where she finished as runner-up to Emma Raducanu. Throughout her career, Leylah has credited her father for instilling mental toughness above all else, stating during the 2023 Australian Open, "Mental is extremely important. I’m very grateful my parents, especially my dad, has reinforced..."
Further emphasizing her father's impact, Leylah noted, "He hasn’t really taught me about tennis or technique but more of the mental side of the sport... Most of the time you don’t have a coach with you, or the coach can’t talk to you during points." This perspective suggests her father fulfilled more than just the role of coach; he provided emotional support and mental conditioning necessary for success on the professional circuit. Many would argue it’s this foundation of mental fortitude instilled by her father, rather than any extreme method of coaching, which has led to her achievements.
Despite the outside scrutiny, Leylah continues to publicly support her father's methods. Yet, the comments from Barbara Schett have added fuel to the criticism of coaching dynamics, with her statements echoing fears expressed by other athletes of how coaching can sometimes cross the line of healthy mentorship.
Interestingly, the only notable incident involving Jorge Fernandez's coaching style arose during the 2024 Wuhan Open, when Leylah faced off against Zheng Qinwen. The Chinese player claimed Jorge's enthusiastic cheering was distracting enough to disrupt her rhythm, sparking conversations about the boundaries of parental involvement and its potential repercussions on others competing against his daughter.
While Barbara Schett's remarks have raised eyebrows, Leylah has never indicated dissatisfaction with her father's coaching style nor has she called for any changes. Her focus remains on her performance as she prepares for future tournaments following her recent first-round elimination at the Dubai Tennis Championships. The WTA Tour continues to monitor discussions around player welfare closely, as they strive to maintain healthy competition environments.
Moving forward, whether the allegations against Jorge Fernandez will lead to significant changes remains uncertain. Leylah has yet to respond to Schett's comments, and for now, her relationship with her father remains publicly intact, with their collaborative effort on her professional career seeming to thrive amid contradictory narratives.