Canadian hopes were shattered at the National Bank Open as Leylah Fernandez of Laval, Que., fell to Japan’s Naomi Osaka in a 6-4, 6-4 defeat in the fourth round at Sobeys Stadium. Following Fernandez’s loss, Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic secured a 6-4, 6-0 victory over Alexandra Eala, ending the breakout star’s run from the Philippines.
During the match, the 30th-seeded Fernandez faced crucial breaks at 3-3 in both sets, with Osaka, the No. 11 seed, sealing the victory with her sixth ace after one hour and 22 minutes of play. Fernandez expressed regret over the small decisions that led to the outcome.
Fernandez had previously caused an upset by defeating the fifth-seeded Mirra Andreeva to advance to the Round of 16. Despite the support from the near-capacity crowd, Fernandez struggled to match Osaka’s strong serve and consistency, leading to unforced errors that proved costly.
Osaka’s triumph marked her first WTA 1000 quarterfinal appearance since the previous year’s final at the NBO. Meanwhile, Eala, fresh off her first WTA title in Washington, saw her seven-match winning streak come to an end at the tournament.
In the men’s singles draw, Ben Shelton defeated Joao Fonseca 6-3, 7-6 (3) to advance to the quarterfinals. Despite facing initial setbacks, Shelton showcased his prowess, overpowering Fonseca with his strong serves and resilient gameplay in windy conditions on centre court.
Shelton, the defending champion, displayed confidence and determination, setting up a potential repeat victory at the National Bank Open. His victory over Fonseca solidified his position as a top contender, with a match against Jakub Mensik of Czechia in the quarterfinals awaiting him. Fonseca acknowledged Shelton’s superior performance, acknowledging the need to improve his game.
The tournament saw several young talents making their mark, with Learner Tien and Daniel Merida Aguilar advancing to the quarterfinals. Despite the absence of top seeds like Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic, emerging players like Shelton are poised to capitalize on the opportunity and showcase their talent on the court.