Meet Jorgan and Irene Fernandez, parents of Leylah Fernandez.
Canadian tennis champion Leylah Fernandez has been one of the sport’s brightest stars over the past few years. After bursting onto the scene in September 2021 by defeating current tennis icons Naomi Osaka and Aryna Sabalenka, she went on to win the 2022 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens, New York.
Leylah wanted to play tennis from a young age and her supportive parents knew right away what needed to be done. It certainly wasn’t easy. But, having parents who shared her dream made the journey much more pleasant and worthwhile.
So, who are the people who are always rooting for Leylah to bring home as many trophies as possible? Let’s find out in this article.
Who are Leylah Fernandez’s parents?
Leylah Fernandez was born on September 6, 2002 in Montreal, Quebec, to Jorge and Irene.
Leylah has said many times that both her parents made sacrifices to ensure she played tennis well throughout her childhood.
When a tennis club in their neighborhood refused to coach Leylah, claiming that she was too young to succeed in tennis, her father stepped in to coach her. Although he had never played tennis before, Jorge learned as much as he could through books and videos. The father was and still is Leylah’s coach, but recently he has let her make important decisions for herself. He allows her to make her own decisions and gradually separates himself from her.
As for her mother, she always provided her daughter with the perfect complement to her husband’s rough style.
Meet Leylah Fernandez’s father, Jorge Fernandez
Jorge Fernandez is the best dad his daughter has ever known. She has also repeatedly praised Papi’s work ethic, passion and drive, which have always kept her going.
Fernandez is a junior soccer player and plays soccer in local leagues in Montreal. He is the father and coach of paid tennis player Leylah Fernandez and his younger sister Bianca Jolie.
Jorge J Fernandez is expected to turn 50 in August 2022.
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What is Jorge Fernandez’s nationality?
Born in Montreal, Leylah Fernandez had a multicultural upbringing. Her father, Jorge, moved to Montreal, Canada from Guayaquil, Ecuador with his family when he was four years old. Then, finally, at the age of 14, he was granted Canadian citizenship.
Jorge Fernandez is a former professional soccer player and recently the manager of Leylah Fernandez LLC. The company was founded in August 2019.
Meet Leylah Fernandez’s mother, Irene Fernandez
Leylah’s mother, Irene Fernandez, was separated from her daughter for many years during the early stages of her tennis career. While her husband coached their daughter, Irene moved to California to earn an income and support the family.
Looking back, Leylah says her mother’s absence had a profound impact on her. From the ages of 10 to 13, she says, every time she saw her mother, it was as if she was seeing a stranger, yet someone very familiar at the same time. But it was this distance that motivated Leylah to work harder.
Luckily, things have gotten better over time. So recently, on Mother’s Day, Leylah took to Instagram to celebrate the strength, positivity, and heart of her mother, who inspires her children every day.
It was Irene who taught her girls how to be strong, independent, and loving women.
Irene, who was originally with a girlfriend named Irene Exevea, is said to have turned 42 in 2022.
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What is Irene Fernandez’s nationality?
Irene Fernandez is the child of Filipino immigrants. She was born in Canada to Filipino parents. Her father is from Ilocos Norte and her mother is from Leyte.
Professionally and as of 2022, Irene Fernandez has been working as a technology account manager at McKesson since March 2015. At the same time, she is also involved in the foundation that she and Jorge named after their daughter.
Previously, Irene earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Insurance Science, Economics from the University of Toronto from 1991 to 1995.
Related FAQs
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Are Leylah Fernandez’s parents separated or still living together?
It is unclear whether Leylah Fernandez’s parents lived together and got married in 2022. However, it is highly likely that they did.
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How many children do Leylah Fernandez’s parents have?
Leylah Fernandez’s parents have two more children. Both are girls. Bianca, 17, also plays tennis, and her sister, Jodeci, is a dentist in Ohio.
It is said that Irene and her siblings (mainly Bianca) always help Leylah whenever she takes a break from playing tennis.
Bianca is also a junior tennis player under her father’s tutelage. Leylah and Bianca only moved into separate rooms last year but Leylah still spends a lot of time in Bianca’s room.
As for Jodeci, she lives in Vermont and stays out of the spotlight. On International Women’s Day last year, Leylah took time to honor the three women who have had the biggest impact on her life. Yes, it was her “amazing sisters” and “amazing mother” that Leylah was talking about.
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Where do Leylah Fernandez’s parents live?
When Leylah Fernandez was twelve, she and her family moved to Florida, which her father called “the tennis capital of the world” in the Sun Sentinel. They have since reunited and are now living in Boynton Beach, Florida. Even this suggests that Leylah’s parents were together and married.
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Do Leylah Fernandez’s parents use Instagram?
At the time of this writing, neither Leylah Fernandez nor I have Instagram accounts.