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Leylah Fernandez recently was the runner-up in the 2021 US Open women's competition, taking part in the first-ever Grand Slam final between unseeded players in the Open era [3] (it was also the first time two teens faced off in a major final since 1999 [4]). Now, after interview opportunities and a glamorous appearance at the Met Gala, she's preparing with coach Duglas Cordero [5] for the BNP Paribas Open, a professional men's and women's tennis tournament on the WTA and ATP tours that's played in Indian Wells, CA, and she shared a slideshow of videos to showcase her training [6]. (You can click through them above; there are two.)
You'll see Fernandez add a tennis twist to stair jump squats, similar to a CrossFit box jump [7], as well as regular and single-leg squats on a BOSU ball: she practiced her forehand and backhand swings with a racket while doing the exercises. Incorporating those strokes into the moves works coordination, stability, and core and lower-body strength — so the next time you want to train like a tennis pro, or are looking for fitness inspo, think, "What would Leylah do?"
The 2021 BNP Paribas Open [8] begins Monday, Oct. 4, and lasts through Sunday, Oct. 17.