Canada's Fernandez wins Play-offs Heart Award

16/05/2021 16:00

Leylah Fernandez has won the Billie Jean King Cup Heart Award in recognition of her stunning performance in Canada's Billie Jean King Cup by BNP Paribas Play-offs win over Serbia

Canada's Fernandez wins Play-offs Heart Award

Canada’s Leylah Fernandez has won the Billie Jean King Cup Heart Award in recognition of her stunning performance during the 4-0 victory over Serbia during April’s Billie Jean King Cup by BNP Paribas Play-offs.

The 18-year-old, who was also nominated for the award following the 2020 Qualifiers, topped the polls in a fan vote that also featured Great Britain’s Katie Boulter, Magdalena Frech of Poland and Ukraine's Elina Svitolina.

Installed as Canada’s No. 1 in the absence of Bianca Andreescu, world No. 69 Fernandez produced a star turn to book the nation’s berth in next season’s Billie Jean King Cup Qualifiers after beating both Olga Danilovic and Nina Stojanovic in three sets and spending more than five hours on court in Kraljevo.

Fernandez, the third Canadian to win a Heart Award after Andreescu in 2017 and Eugenie Bouchard in 2018, receives a cheque for $3,000 to donate to a charity of her choice. She has chosen Table de Concertation en Sécurité Alimentaire de Villeray, based in her native Montreal, which co-ordinates initiatives to tackle poverty and hunger in the district of Villeray.

“I am honoured and so thrilled to win this year’s Billie Jean King Cup Heart Award,” Fernandez said. “Thank you so much to the fans who voted. It means the world to me to represent my country and be part of an incredible team. Congratulations to all of the nominees.

“After such a challenging year for all of us, it’s amazing to be given the opportunity to celebrate kindness and pay it forward. Thank you very much. Go Canada Go!”

ITF President and Billie Jean King Cup Heart Award panel member David Haggerty said: “Congratulations to Leylah Fernandez for her great performance at the Billie Jean King Cup Play-offs in April and for being voted the recipient of the Billie Jean King Cup Heart Award. It’s extra special to be voted for by the fans and recognised for showing great courage and commitment to your team.”

Heidi El Tabakh, Canada's Billie Jean King Cup captain, added: “I am so happy and extremely proud of Leylah for winning the Billie Jean King Cup Play-Offs Heart Award. It was well deserved following a spectacular performance in Serbia, which she worked so hard for.

“Leylah is a great fighter on the court, she always represents Canada with pride and is an incredible teammate for her fellow players. She is a very worthy winner of this award.”

Now in its 12th year, the Billie Jean King Cup Heart Award recognises those players who have represented their country with distinction, shown exceptional courage on court and demonstrated outstanding commitment to the team during Billie Jean King Cup by BNP Paribas. To date, award winners have donated over $200,000 to charities worldwide. 

Find out more about the Billie Jean King Cup Heart Award and previous winners here.