What could 2025 hold for Canadian superstars Felix Auger-Aliassime and Leylah Fernandez?
She is already a Grand Slam runner-up and Billie Jean King Cup champion, while he has a Davis Cup title to his name as well as an Olympic bronze medal.
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But while the two fan favourites, both still under 25 years old, have shown they are capable of the biggest things in pro tennis, there is an air about them that says they are certain to do more – much more.
It was a year ago that the same pair led the Maple Leaf in its United Cup debut, but it wasn't to be. A knee injury hampered Felix, setting him out of the singles, and Fernandez had to open her 2024 campaign against then-world No.8 Maria Sakkari, falling to the Greek in straight sets.
But the aforementioned team success for Canada can be pivotal in the United Cup format, as Auger-Aliassime pointed out in the outset of the 2024 edition:
"I think we have nothing really to prove as a country [and] what we can do," he told reporters. "We want to keep winning, and we want to keep showing that we're here to stay."
TICKETS: Cheer on Team Canada at United Cup 2025 in Perth
They'll be the undisputed leaders of a Canadian squad in Group A, where they’re pitted against Team USA and Croatia – meaning Coco Gauff, Taylor Fritz, Borna Coric and Donna Vekic all to contend with.
Group of death? Not far from it.
What is it about Felix and Leylah that make them so engaging?
They are both former junior Grand Slam winners and have already shown flashes of greatness in their burgeoning careers.
For Fernandez, it was highlighted by that Cinderella-like run at the 2021 US Open, with upset wins over Naomi Osaka, Elina Svitolina, Angelique Kerber and Aryna Sabalenka en route to the final, where she fell to Emma Raducanu.
While the Brit claimed the crown, to be inside Arthur Ashe Stadium that day at the US Open was to witness a true star moment for Leylah, who had gone from little-known up-and-comer to New York City superstar.
It was when Fernandez realised she loved playing on the biggest courts in the world in front of an expectant crowd.
"I'm glad that I've discovered that of myself, that I play a lot better when I'm more outgoing and when I'm using the crowd to my advantage," she said after the final.
Auger-Aliassime took the longer way around, losing his first nine ATP championship tilts before eventually collecting five singles titles, while also making runs to the US Open semis (2021) and Australian Open quarters (2022).
His run to the semifinals at the Paris Olympics ended in a fourth-place finish in singles, but he and Gabriela Dabrowski nabbed bronze in mixed doubles, showcasing another stage he can excel on.
The tennis off-season is short, yes, but Fernandez and Auger-Aliassime made the most of theirs.
Leylah spent time with her sister Bianca in Los Angeles, where Bianca attends UCLA and plays on the Bruin tennis team. She then headed to Australia early to prepare for the Summer of Tennis.
"I'm super excited. First of all, I love representing Canada in any team competition,” she told unitedcup.com. "That's definitely one of the appeals of playing the United Cup, that's why we made that decision, and then also I get to spend time with the team.
"To have that as the first tournament of the year is a good way to start. I get to enjoy my time with Felix, Liam and Ben, and then also with the girls, Ariana and Stacey.
“I haven't seen all of them in a long time, so to get to spend Christmas and maybe New Years’ with them would be extremely fun.”
And Felix? He made a special trip to visit Togo, in West Africa, and also got engaged to longtime girlfriend Nina Ghaibi.
Will both have further reason to celebrate upon the 2025 United Cup finishing?
It's surely possible.
