Baseline is looking ahead to the new year by showcasing 21 players under 21 to watch out for in '21. To make the coveted list, players must be born in 2000 or later.
Believe it or not, Leylah Fernandez's 20-10 2020 record actually understates the breakthrough year she had. With three qualifying victories in Melbourne, she gained entry into the Australian Open main draw for the first time. She then beat world No. 5 Belinda Bencic at the Fed Cup, won six straight matches to qualify and make the final in Acapulco, defeated 2017 US Open champion Sloane Stephens in both Monterrey and Lexington, qualified for the Western & Southern Open, scored her first main draw Grand Slam win at the US Open and reached the third round at Roland Garros.
Over and over again, the lefty displayed that she doesn't just win matches, she does it with consistency, against top players and on the biggest stages.
Ranking: No. 88
Age: 18 (Sept. 6, 2002)
What she did in 2020: Qualified for the Australian Open, advanced to the Acapulco WTA final, made the second round of the US Open, reached the third round at Roland Garros.
Instagram: @leylahannietennis