Canadian hopes were disappointed at the National Bank Open as Leylah Fernandez fell to Naomi Osaka in the fourth round. Fernandez, seeded 30th, lost 6-4, 6-4 to Osaka at Sobeys Stadium. Following this, Belinda Bencic defeated Alexandra Eala with a score of 6-4, 6-0, ending the impressive run of the breakout star from the Philippines.
Fernandez was broken at 3-3 in both sets, and Osaka sealed the victory with her sixth ace after 1 hour and 22 minutes of play. Fernandez expressed regret over some decisions that impacted the match outcome.
Earlier, Fernandez had caused an upset by defeating the fifth-seeded Mirra Andreeva to advance to the Round of 16. Despite the Canadian contingent receiving wild-card entries, all players, including former champion Bianca Andreescu, were eliminated in the early rounds.
In doubles matches, all five Canadian entries faced defeat. Ottawa’s Gabriela Dabrowski played with a substitute partner due to her regular partner’s injury. The crowd at the venue tried to energize Fernandez with chants of “Let’s Go, Leylah!” during breaks.
Osaka’s win secured her spot in the WTA 1000 quarterfinals, marking her first appearance since last year’s final at the NBO. Meanwhile, Eala, fresh from her WTA crown in Washington, saw her seven-match winning streak end at this tournament.
In the men’s singles draw, Ben Shelton overcame Joao Fonseca to advance to the quarterfinals. Shelton, the fifth seed, displayed a strong performance, winning 6-3, 7-6 (3). He will now face Jakub Mensik in the next round.
Shelton, the defending champion, showcased his talent and determination despite facing challenges from Fonseca and adverse weather conditions. With his victory, Shelton remains a top contender in the tournament, aiming to secure another title win.
The National Bank Open has seen numerous young players making their mark, with Shelton leading the pack of rising stars. As the competition progresses, the tournament promises exciting matchups and fierce competition among the remaining players.