Canadian tennis fans were left disappointed at the National Bank Open as their hope for local stars was dashed on Sunday. 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 secured a 6-4, 6-0 victory over Alexandra Eala, ending the impressive run of the Philippines’ rising star.
Fernandez, seeded 30th, faced crucial breaks at 3-3 in both sets, ultimately leading to Osaka, seeded 11th, clinching the win with her sixth ace in a match lasting one hour and 22 minutes. Fernandez, reflecting on the match, highlighted the impact of small decisions that accumulated throughout the game.
Earlier, Fernandez made headlines by upsetting the fifth-seeded Mirra Andreeva of Russia to advance to the Round of 16. Despite high hopes, the other Canadian players, including former champion Bianca Andreescu, were eliminated in the early stages of the competition.
In the doubles draw, all five Canadian entries faced defeat in their opening matches. Notably, Ottawa’s Gabriela Dabrowski played with a substitute partner due to her regular partner’s injury, affecting their performance on the court.
Despite the near-capacity crowd’s support and chants of “Let’s Go, Leylah!” during breaks, Fernandez struggled against Osaka’s strong serve and consistent play. Unforced errors in crucial moments cost Fernandez the match, as Osaka showcased her dominance with a total of 25 wins this season.
Osaka’s victory marked her first WTA 1000 quarterfinal appearance since last year when she reached the final at the NBO in Montreal. On the other hand, Eala, fresh off her first WTA title in Washington, saw her seven-match win streak halted as she exited the tournament.
In the men’s singles draw, American Ben Shelton displayed his prowess by defeating Brazilian Joao Fonseca 6-3, 7-6 (3) in the Round of 16. Despite facing early setbacks in both sets, Shelton’s confidence and powerful serves propelled him to secure a spot in the quarterfinals.
Shelton, the fifth seed, showcased his strength on the court, recording five aces and maintaining a high first-serve percentage. Fonseca acknowledged his opponent’s superior performance, emphasizing the importance of Shelton’s strong serves in the match outcome.
With his eyes set on defending his National Bank Open title, Shelton is positioned as a top contender in the tournament. His upcoming quarterfinal clash against the Czech player Jakub Mensik promises an exciting matchup between two familiar rivals on the court.
As the tournament progresses, young talents like Shelton and Mensik are making their mark in the competition, showcasing high-level tennis and setting the stage for thrilling encounters in the later rounds.