Canadian hopes were shattered on Sunday at the National Bank Open as Leylah Fernandez of Laval, Quebec, suffered a 6-4, 6-4 defeat against Japan’s Naomi Osaka in the fourth round at Sobeys Stadium. Following this, Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic claimed a 6-4, 6-0 victory over Alexandra Eala, ending the impressive run of the Philippine star.
Fernandez, seeded 30th, faced crucial breaks at 3-3 in both sets, with Osaka, the 11th seed, sealing the match with her sixth ace in a total match time of one hour and 22 minutes. Fernandez expressed regret over the small decisions that led to the outcome, acknowledging missed opportunities during the game.
Having previously upset the fifth-seeded Mirra Andreeva to advance to the Round of 16, Fernandez’s journey came to an end. Despite wild-card entries for seven other Canadian players, including former champion Bianca Andreescu, all were eliminated early on.
In the doubles draw, all five Canadian entries suffered defeats in their opening matches. Notably, Ottawa’s Gabriela Dabrowski played alongside a substitute partner due to her usual partner’s injury. The enthusiastic crowd at the centre court tried to uplift Fernandez with occasional chants of “Let’s Go, Leylah!” amid the warm and clear evening at the York University venue.
Both players engaged in a battle of ground strokes, with Osaka’s strong serve and consistent performance proving challenging for Fernandez. The Canadian player made a few unforced errors, particularly in crucial moments of the game, leading to Osaka’s victory and progression to the quarterfinals.
Meanwhile, Eala, fresh off her first WTA crown in Washington, saw her seven-match winning streak come to an end. In other matches, Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan and Coco Gauff of the United States secured wins to advance to the quarterfinals at the WTA 1000 competition.
In the men’s singles draw, Ben Shelton defeated Brazilian Joao Fonseca 6-3, 7-6 (3) at IGA Stadium, showcasing resilience after early setbacks. Shelton, the fifth seed, displayed strong serves and strategic play to secure a spot in the quarterfinals against Jakub Mensik.
Having claimed his first Masters 1000 title in Toronto last year, Shelton is a top contender in the tournament, with his victory over Fonseca marking another step towards potential success. Fonseca acknowledged Shelton’s superior performance and expressed determination to improve in future matches.
The National Bank Open witnessed several upsets and unexpected exits, with the tournament landscape now featuring emerging talents and young players making their mark. As the event progresses, the competition remains fierce, with Shelton and other rising stars poised for exciting matchups in the upcoming rounds.
