By Richard Pagliaro Thursday, April 2, 2026
Photo credit: Mike Stone/Getty
A last minute call brought Venus Williams and Leila Fernandez together last summer.
The pair reached the U.S. Open doubles quarterfinals last summer with an inspired performance.
Fernandez and Venus Williams renewed their doubles pairing at last month’s Miami Open, where they lost 6-3, 3-6, 11-13 to Asia Muhammad and Erin Rutliff.
In the loss at the Miami Open, four-time Olympic gold medalist Venus gave what Fernandez said was some of the best on-court advice she’s ever received.
As the left-handed Canadian was ruining her volley error, Venus told her: Unless you have a time machine, you can’t go back in time, so forget about it and move on.
Fernandez said the perspective offered by Venus, 45, was invaluable.
“She was a great mentor. I mean, in the last tiebreak, the third set tiebreak, we were ahead and we lost, and I remember I had a couple easy shots, easy volleys, and I missed them, and I was really sad at the end of the match because I really wanted to end the day with a win,” Fernandez said. “and [Venus] Tell me, you know, like I’m playing great, just keep going, keep going. if we all have time
Machine, we would use it, but we don’t, so move on.
“So that quote really helped me recharge and see the bright side,
Continue working the next day and find ways to improve. “
Former world number one Venus Williams won 14 Grand Slam doubles titles with her sister serena williams. The pair had never lost a Grand Slam doubles final together.
Although Venus Williams had not originally planned to play women’s doubles at the 2025 US Open, she changed her mind after receiving a late-night call from Fernandez’s team asking if she would team up with the Canadian.
The pair came close to meeting again at the 2026 Australian Open, but Fernandez has already identified another partner.
“We stayed in touch with Venus after the U.S. Open,” Fernandez said. “She asked me
Playing in Australia, but unfortunately I’ve signed with Timea, so that’s it.
“Then I did ask her if she was going to the Middle East, but she wasn’t. So we were friendly
Find the best time to play together, Indian Wells and Miami are two of them
The tournaments we could play, unfortunately, Indian Wells isn’t happening, but there is the Miami Open, which is fun. “
