Leylah Fernandez rocks braids in deeply personal new look, featuring shoes designed by dad Jorge

NEW YORK—Leylah Fernandez may have bowed out early from the US Open, but the 2021 finalist’s fit check is still giving tennis fans plenty to talk about.

The Canadian set social media ablaze on Tuesday during her Court 5 match against Anastasia Potapova, when we all got a first look at the new Lululemon dress crafted with her feedback, the new hairstyle she first previewed on Instagram, and the new tennis shoes designed by her dad, Jorge.

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The most eye-catching part of her look is the 21-year-old’s cornrow braids—a style change that caught social media users by surprise, but one that Fernandez says she didn’t take lightly.

“The braids has actually been a conversation for a very long time,” Fernandez told Baseline exclusively. “I’ve always loved athletes who wore braids. They were super inspiring, and I thought that it was kind of cool.”

For Fernandez, the new hairstyle also pays homage to her personal identity and family’s history. Her father Jorge is from Ecuador and mom Irene is Filipino-Canadian, and Fernandez says she chatted with the whole team before going through with her new style.

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“I’m also part Latina and a lot of Latinas wear braids, so I thought, Oh, maybe I should try that out,” Fernandez explained. “I’ve always worn my hair in a ponytail or a bun… I told my team, US Open is the tournament where I’m going to make that change.

“I don't think many people know that I’ve always wanted to have braids. It feels like a good change and it's a good place to do it. It's very unpredictable, just like New York, so it’s perfect.”

After getting her braids done by New York City-based hair artist India Williams, Fernandez rushed to social media to tease the new look ahead of the tournament. In the days since, she’s completely “fallen in love” with her new 'do, and promises there will be more styles to come.

“I think I've actually fallen in love with it. The hairdresser did an amazing job. She made it super easy for me, making me feel comfortable,” Fernandez said.

“So I'm super happy that I got to experience this, and I hope—no, I know it’s not going to be the last!”

The rest of Fernandez’s look is packed with personal touches, too, highlighted by Lululemon’s Varsity Scoop-Neck Tennis Dress: a white dress with pleated skirt that features peekaboo pops of teal and yellow. It’s a departure from her previous outfits as the brand’s first global brand ambassador in tennis—and a reflection of the 21-year-old’s evolving fashion taste as she grows up.

“For the longest time, I think ever since I started playing tennis, I’ve never been a fan of dresses,” she admitted. “Like, just give me a two-piece set, like a tank top and a skirt.

“They’ve been very patient with me. And then they were like, How about we make a dress for you?”

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Fernandez said that she provided the Canadian sportswear company’s design team with plenty of detailed feedback—from requesting more tennis-specific performance dress options and two-piece garments for mixing and matching, to personally approving a lighter and more breathable material, one that ensures the dress won’t feel heavy during humid days as sweat builds up.

“[Lululemon] were extremely open to these suggestions, and they were able to make all the necessary changes,” she said. “I love that they kept the dress simple, because I see some brands sometimes that make things extremely popping or extravagant.

“But I’m trying to show off my personality, and let a little bit more of my tennis game show in the designs and in my clothes I compete in. I told them, I like simple, and maybe a few colors here and there for a subtle pop… So yeah, their design team are geniuses.”

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She completed the outfit with a new tennis shoe designed by Aesem Athletica—an upcoming footwear project still in the works from dad and longtime coach Jorge.

“It’s been my dad’s design and idea for a very long time,” Fernandez said with a grin. “He’s been working with a German group and a Canadian group for a couple of years now, and I'm happy to see that his imagination now is coming to life.”

Still in the pre-launch stage, Aesem Athletica aims to create “a new tennis shoe tailor-made to fit the lifestyle of the new generation of athletes,” according to its website. Fernandez has only worn the shoes in competition a few times—including at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris—and continues to provide her feedback ahead of the release.

The 21-year-old says she appreciates the cool “sneaker-like” look of the shoe, which is designed to transition seamlessly on and off court.

“You don't need to bring like, 20 pairs of shoes in your luggage, which sometimes I do,” she explained. “These shoes are perfect. I can just bring maybe five pairs—a couple for the tennis court and a couple for walking, which is great for me.”

If you missed any part of Fernandez's look this week, the Canadian will be back on court for women's doubles on Thursday alongside Yulia Putintseva. The pair will face No. 1 seeds Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe in the first round.