By Richard Pagliaro | Thursday, April 2, 2026
Picture credit score: Mike Stone/Getty
A final-minute telephone name introduced Venus Williams and Leylah Fernandez collectively final summer season.
The pair answered the bell with an impressed run to the US Open doubles quarterfinals final summer season.
Fernandez and Venus Williams reprised their doubles pairing on the Miami Open final month the place they bowed to Asia Muhammad and Erin Routliffe 6-3, 3-6, 11-13.
In that Miami Open loss, four-time Olympic gold-medal champion Venus dispenses a number of the greatest on-court recommendation Fernandez mentioned she’s obtained.
Because the left-handed Canadian was ruing her volley errors, Venus informed her: Except you could have a time machine you may’t return to the previous, so overlook it and hold shifting ahead.
Fernandez mentioned it was invaluable perspective coming from the 45-year-old Venus.
“She’s an amazing mentor. I imply, within the final tiebreak, the third set tiebreaker, we had been up and we misplaced it, and I keep in mind I had like a few straightforward pictures, straightforward volleys, and I missed, and I used to be actually heartbroken on the finish of the match as a result of I used to be like actually needed to finish the day with a win,” Fernandez mentioned. “And [Venus] informed me, you already know, like I performed nice, simply to maintain going, hold ahead. If all of us had a time
machine, we might use it, however we don’t, so simply hold shifting ahead.
“So with that quote, that undoubtedly helped me to form of recharge and take a look at the brilliant aspect and
simply hold working the following day and discover methods to enhance.”
Former world No. 1 Venus Williams received 14 main doubles titles together with her sister Serena Williams. The pair by no means misplaced a serious doubles closing collectively.
Although Venus Williams had not deliberate to play ladies’s doubles on the 2025 US Open, she modified her thoughts after receiving a late-night telephone name from Fernandez’s staff asking if she would staff up with the Canadian.
The pair practically performed once more on the 2026 Australian Open, however Fernandez had already dedicated to a different associate.
“With Venus we form of saved in touch after the US Open,” Fernandez mentioned. “She requested me to
play in Australia, however sadly I used to be already dedicated with Timea, in order that was it.
“After which I did ask if she was going to the Center East, however she wasn’t. So we had been form
of determining the proper time to play collectively, and Indian Wells and Miami was the 2
tournaments the place we might play, and sadly, Indian Wells didn’t occur, however there was Miami Open, and it was numerous enjoyable.”
