The National Bank Open women’s tennis tournament saw positive developments following a challenging start. Leylah Fernandez from Canada advanced to the Round of 16, while Alex Eala continued to shine, boosting excitement among fans. Top players like Elena Rybakina, Coco Gauff, and Iga Swiatek remained in contention, pleasing tournament director Karl Hale. The event faced setbacks when 2025 champion Victoria Mboko withdrew due to injury, leading to wild-card entries for Bianca Andreescu and other Canadian players. Despite only two Canadians progressing to the second round, Hale highlighted the strong lineup of top 10 singles players and the enthusiastic attendance.
Fernandez, seeded 30th, secured a spot in the third round by defeating Russian Mirra Andreeva and is set to face Naomi Osaka next. Eala, the breakout star from the Philippines, advanced to the Round of 16 and will compete against Belinda Bencic. In another notable match, Swiatek from Poland secured her quarterfinal spot with a hard-fought victory over Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine.
The tournament faced challenges with inclement weather affecting matches and a thinner media presence compared to previous years. Despite the obstacles, the competition continued, with Rafael Jodar impressively defeating Jiri Lehecka in the men’s singles. Jodar’s rise in the rankings drew attention from global tennis enthusiasts, with fans rallying behind him during matches. The Spaniard’s focus remains on personal development rather than rankings as he advances to the quarterfinals to face Arthur Fils.
The men’s singles draw also saw Luciano Darderi and Brandon Nakashima securing quarterfinal berths after tough matches. The absence of Canadian players in the men’s singles field was offset by the success of the all-Canadian doubles team of Duncan Chan and Alexis Galarneau, who defeated the eighth-seeded pair in a thrilling match. Meanwhile, the tournament continues, promising more exciting matches in the days ahead.