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Alycia Parks Shocks 24th Seed Leylah Fernandez at French Open — Melanin News | Melanin
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Alycia Parks Shocks 24th Seed Leylah Fernandez at French OpenSports

Alycia Parks Shocks 24th Seed Leylah Fernandez at French Open

1w ago

Alycia Parks just sent a clear message to the tennis world: she's here to stay. The 25-year-old American talent, often seen on the fringes of major tennis conversations, stepped firmly into the spotlight on Monday, May 25, 2026, at Roland-Garros. Parks delivered a composed and powerful performance, dismantling the 24th-seeded Canadian Leylah Fernandez with a decisive 6-4, 6-4 victory in the first round of the French Open on Court 7 in Paris, France.

This straight-sets triumph over a highly-regarded opponent signals a potential turning point for Parks, who has long been recognized for her raw power but has sought greater consistency. The win is particularly noteworthy as it came on clay, a surface where her aggressive game has historically faced challenges. Prior to this tournament, reports indicated Parks had not managed to win back-to-back matches since the clay-court season began and had lost six of her last ten outings on the surface.

Image related to Alycia Parks Shocks 24th Seed Leylah Fernandez at French Open
Related image from the original report Source

Parks, who hails from Atlanta, Georgia, and currently resides in Port St. Lucie, Florida, has been coached since childhood by her father, Michael Parks, a former professional basketball player. Known for her formidable serve and aggressive style, Parks famously tied Venus Williams' record for the fastest serve at the US Open in 2021, clocking an impressive 129 mph. Her career-high WTA singles ranking reached No. 40 on August 14, 2023, and she entered the 2026 French Open ranked either No. 79 or No. 80.

Her journey has seen moments of brilliance, including her first WTA Tour singles title in February 2023 in Lyon, where she sensationally defeated the top seed Caroline Garcia. Reflecting on that achievement, Parks described it as "amazing to hold my first WTA tour-level championship trophy," adding that "Words can't explain. Just last year, I was in an [ITF Challenger] $60,000 final, and now I have won a WTA 250." In addition to her singles success, Parks boasts two WTA Tour doubles titles, notably a WTA 1000 title at the 2023 Western & Southern Open alongside Taylor Townsend. Her best Grand Slam singles performance before this French Open was reaching the third round of the 2024 Australian Open, where she ultimately fell to Coco Gauff. She had also reached the second round of the French Open in both 2023 and 2025.

Parks has openly discussed how playing in front of crowds that are against her "definitely puts a fire under me" and that she performs well when the energy is directed against her. She has also been working with tennis legend Serena Williams to refine her game for the unique demands of clay courts, an effort that appears to be paying dividends.

Leylah Fernandez
Leylah Fernandez Source

On the other side of the net was Leylah Fernandez, born September 6, 2002, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The left-handed player achieved her career-high WTA singles ranking of No. 13 in August 2022. Fernandez is widely celebrated for her stunning run to the final of the 2021 US Open as a teenager, where she defeated several top-5 players, including defending champion Naomi Osaka, Angelique Kerber, and Aryna Sabalenka. Her first WTA title came at the Monterrey Open in March 2021, and her best result at Roland-Garros was reaching the quarterfinals in 2022.

Fernandez entered the 2026 French Open with an encouraging 8-5 record on clay this season, highlighted by quarterfinal appearances in Stuttgart, Madrid, and Strasbourg, with her most recent run concluding in the Strasbourg semifinals against fellow Canadian Victoria Mboko. Despite this, her first-round exit at Roland-Garros marks her second consecutive year being eliminated in the opening round of the clay-court Grand Slam.

This match was the third career meeting between Parks and Fernandez and their first encounter on clay. Their head-to-head record stood at 1-1 before this clash, with Parks having secured a victory at the 2024 Australian Open and Fernandez winning at the 2025 Miami Open. Parks' strong serving performance on the WTA Tour, where she wins nearly 70% of her service games, was a key factor in her ability to overcome Fernandez, particularly given her previous struggles on clay.

The victory represents a significant stride for Alycia Parks, demonstrating her capacity to perform under pressure and overcome historical challenges on a difficult surface against a formidable opponent. It sets the stage for what could be a deep run for the American at Roland-Garros. Parks is now scheduled to face Switzerland's Viktorija Golubic in the second round, with all eyes on whether she can maintain this momentum and further solidify her place among the sport's elite.