Canadian hopes were disappointed on Sunday at the National Bank Open as Leylah Fernandez of Laval, Que., 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 rising star from the Philippines.
Fernandez, seeded 30th, faced crucial breaks at 3-3 in both sets, allowing Osaka, the 11th seed, to seal the match with her sixth ace after a match duration of one hour and 22 minutes. Fernandez had previously caused an upset by defeating the fifth-seeded Mirra Andreeva of Russia to advance to the Round of 16.
While the nearly full crowd at the center court cheered for Fernandez with intermittent “Let’s Go, Leylah!” chants, Osaka’s strong serves and consistent performance proved challenging for the Canadian player. Fernandez admitted to making some errors and missing opportunities to capitalize on her lead during the match.
Osaka’s win marked her first WTA 1000 quarterfinal appearance since the previous year’s final at the NBO, where she lost to Canada’s Victoria Mboko, who was absent this year due to injury. On the other hand, Eala, fresh off her first WTA title in Washington, saw her seven-match winning streak halted.
In the men’s singles draw, American Ben Shelton defeated Brazilian Joao Fonseca 6-3, 7-6 (3) in the Round of 16 at IGA Stadium. Shelton, the fifth seed, showcased a strong performance, overcoming early breaks in both sets and utilizing his powerful serves to secure victory.
Shelton’s win sets up a quarterfinal clash against the 13th seed Jakub Mensik of Czechia. Mensik, who defeated Botic van de Zandschulp of the Netherlands, expressed excitement about the upcoming match, highlighting the anticipated battle of serves between the two players.
Earlier in the day, American Learner Tien advanced to the quarterfinals with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Thiago Agustin Tirante of Argentina. The tournament has witnessed a surge of young talent making their mark, with players like Shelton and Tien leading the charge in the absence of some top seeds due to injuries and withdrawals.
The National Bank Open continues to showcase top-level tennis, with emerging talents like Shelton and Mensik poised to make a significant impact in the ongoing competition.